Internal Enmity
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uṭampā ṭilātavar vāḻkkai kuṭaṅkaruṭ / pāmpō ṭuṭaṉuṟain taṟṟu.
Life with those who lack true concord is like dwelling together with a snake inside one hut.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Domestic life with those who don't agree, / Is dwelling in a shed with snake for company.”
“Behold the man who mixeth on intimate terms with one who hateth him in his heart: he is like one dwelling in a hut with a cobra for his companion.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உடம்பாடு இலாதவர் வாழ்க்கை= மனப்பொருத்தம் இல்லாதாரோடு கூட ஒருவன் வாழும் வாழ்க்கை; குடங்கருள் பாம்போடு உடன் உறைந்தற்று= ஒரு குடிலுள்ளே பாம்போடு கூட உறைந்தாற் போலும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that life with people who lack concord resembles dwelling with a snake in the same small hut. The force of the image lies in uncertain danger combined with little room to escape. Concord here is not uniform opinion; it is dependable alignment around basic safety and honored responsibilities. Difference, criticism, and reporting harm are not absence of concord.