Not Offending the Great and Powerful
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ēntiya koḷkaiyār cīṟi ṉiṭaimurintu / vēntaṉum vēntu keṭum.
If those who bear exalted vows become angry, even a king will lose his kingship, broken off midway.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“When blazes forth the wrath of men of lofty fame, / Kings even fall from high estate and perish in the flame.”
“Even the king of the Gods will fail from his place and lose his sovereignty if men of holy vows look on him in anger.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஏந்திய கொள்கையார் சீறின்= காத்தற்கு அருமையான் உயர்ந்த விரதங்களை உடையார் வெகுள்வாராயின்; வேந்தனும் இடை வேந்து முரிந்து கெடும்= அவர் ஆற்றலான் இந்திரனும் இடையே தன்பதம் இழந்து கெடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that if people who maintain lofty vows difficult to preserve become angry, their ascetic power causes even Indra to lose his office midway and fall. The emphasis is spiritual discipline outranking royal office and interrupting tenure before its expected end. In modern life, anger alone proves no wrongdoing, and spiritual leaders remain subject to evidence, law, safeguarding review, criticism, and appeal.