Following a Wife's Direction
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peṇṇēval ceytoḻuku māṇmaiyi ṉāṇuṭaip / peṇṇē perumai uṭaittu.
The dignity of a modest woman exceeds the manliness of a shameless man who lives by carrying out his wife's commands.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The dignity of modest womanhood excels / His manliness, obedient to a woman's law who dwells.”
“Behold the man that submitteth to petticoat government: a bashful maid hath more dignity in her than he.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பெண் ஏவல்செய்து ஒழுகும் ஆண்மையின்= நாண்இன்றித் தன் இல்லாளது ஏவல் தொழிலைச் செய்து திரிகின்றவனது ஆண்தன்மையின்; நாண் உடைப் பெண்ணே பெருமை உடைத்து= நாணினையுடைய அவள் பெண்தன்மையே மேம்பாடு உடைத்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the man in the first half lacks modesty and goes about performing work at his wife's command; the modest woman's womanhood therefore possesses greater dignity than his manliness. This is an explicitly patriarchal historical comparison, not a modern ranking of genders. Respect for a wife, equal consultation, affection, and compromise are not weakness. The transferable concern is surrendering conscience to another person's command; anyone under coercion deserves safety and restored choice, not blame.