Courtesy and Consideration
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nakaiyuḷḷu miṉṉā tikaḻcci pakaiyuḷḷum / paṇpuḷa pāṭaṟivār māṭṭu.
Contempt is painful even in play; therefore, in those who conduct themselves knowing what others are carrying, even amid enmity there is no contempt but only the agreeable qualities.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Contempt is evil though in sport. They who man's nature know, / E'en in their wrath, a courteous mind will show.”
“Disparaging words pain a man even when uttered only in jest: the well-bred therefore are never discourteous even to their foes.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இகழ்ச்சி நகையுள்ளும் இன்னாது= தன்னை இகழ்தல் ஒருவற்கு விளையாட்டின்கண்ணும் இன்னாது; பாடு அறிவார் மாட்டுப் பகையுள்ளும் பண்பு உள= ஆகலான், பிறர் பாடு அறிந்து ஒழுகுவார்மாட்டுப் பகைமை உள்வழியும், அஃது உளதாகாது இனியவாய பண்புகளே உளவாவன.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Contempt is painful even in play. So in those who conduct themselves knowing what others are carrying, even amid enmity there is no contempt, but only the agreeable quality.