Not Offending the Great and Powerful
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keṭalvēṇṭiṟ kēḷātu ceyka vaṭalvēṇṭi / ṉāṟṟu pavarka ṇiḻukku.
If one desires ruin, let one act without heeding counsel; if one desires to be struck down, let one offend those able to do it.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who ruin covet let them shut their ears, and do despite / To those who, where they list to ruin have the might.”
“Dost thou seek thy annihilation? then close thy ears to good counsel and offer provocation to men who have the power to destroy thee when they please.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அடல் வேண்டின் ஆற்றுபவர்கண் இழுக்கு= வேற்றுவேந்தரைக் கோறல்வேண்டியவழி, அதனை அப்பொழுதே செய்யவல்ல வேந்தர் மாட்டுப் பிழையினை; கெடல் வேண்டின் கேளாது செய்க= தான் கெடுதல் வேண்டினான்ஆயின் ஒருவன் நீதிநூலைக் கடந்து செய்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar reads the couplet as two ironic instructions. If one wishes to be destroyed, offend a ruler able to kill an enemy at once; if one wishes one's own ruin, act beyond the book of justice without heeding it. These are warnings, not recommendations. In a modern setting, lawful criticism, protected reporting, and refusal of an unlawful order are not ‘offence’ merely because they challenge power.