Not Offending the Great and Powerful
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vakaimāṇṭa vāḻkkaiyu vāṉporuḷu meṉṉān / takaimāṇṭa takkār ceṟiṉ.
If worthy ascetics of great spiritual excellence become angry, what use are a magnificently ordered royal life and vast wealth?
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though every royal gift, and stores of wealth your life should crown, / What are they, if the worthy men of mighty virtue frown?”
“Where will be thy life with its varied glories and thy wealth with all its splendour, if sages, strong in the strength of the spirit, are incensed against thee?”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தகை மாண்ட தக்கார் செறின்= சாப அருள்கட்கு ஏதுவாய பெருமை மாட்சிமைப்பட்ட அருந்தவர் அரசனை வெகுள்வாராயின்; வகைமாண்ட வாழ்க்கையும் வான் பொருளும் என்னாம்= உறுப்பழகு பெற்ற அவன் அரசாட்சியும், ஈட்டிவைத்த பெரும்பொருளும் என்பட்டுவிடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that if rare ascetics, eminent through the spiritual power associated with blessing and curse, become angry with a king, his beautifully constituted kingship and amassed great wealth come to nothing. This is classical theological language placing spiritual authority above political and material power. In modern life, no spiritual leader is above evidence, criticism, safeguarding review, legal accountability, or appeal.