Nobility of Character
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iṟpiṟantār kaṇṇalla tillai yiyalpākac / ceppamum nāṇu moruṅku.
Rectitude and self-respect, arriving together as one thing and not by nature otherwise, are what the old line places in those born to a house that holds them.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Save in the scions of a noble house, you never find / Instinctive sense of right and virtuous shame combined.”
“Rectitude and a sense of shame come by nature only to men who are born of a good family.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செப்பமும் நாணும் ஒருங்கு= செம்மையும் நாணும் சேர; இற்பிறந்தார்கண் அல்லது இயல்பாக இல்லை= குடிப்பிறந்தார் மாட்டல்லது பிறர்மாட்டு இயற்கையாக உளவாகா.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Rectitude and self-respect, arriving together as one thing and not otherwise by nature, are found only in those born to a house that holds them.