Courtesy and Consideration
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
naṇpāṟṟā rāki nayamila ceyvārkkum / paṇpāṟṟā rātal kaṭai.
Even towards those who conduct hostility rather than friendship and do things without grace, failing to perform one's own quality is, for a person of discernment, the lowest place.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though men with all unfriendly acts and wrongs assail, / 'Tis uttermost disgrace in 'courtesy' to fail.”
“Discourtesy is unbecoming in a man, even were it only against men who are unfriendly and unjust.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நண்பு ஆற்றார் ஆகி நயமில செய்வார்க்கும்= தம்மொடு நட்பினைச் செய்யாது பகைமையைச் செய்து ஒழுகுவார் மாட்டும்; பண்பு ஆற்றாராதல் கடை= தாம் பண்புடையராய் ஒழுகாமை அறிவுடையார்க்கு இழுக்காம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even towards those who conduct hostility rather than friendship and act without grace, failing to perform one's own quality is, for a person of discernment, the lowest thing.