Shame and Self-Respect
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piṟarpaḻiyun tampaḻiyu nāṇuvar nāṇuk / kuṟaipati yeṉṉu mulaku.
“As home of virtuous shame by all the world the men are known, / Who feel ashamed for others, guilt as for their own.”
“Behold the men that blush as much for others’ disgrace as for their own: they will be called the very dwelling place of delicacy.”
Those who shrink from others' shame as from their own are hailed as the true home of honor.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பிறர் பழியும் தம் பழியும் நாணுவார்= பிறர்க்கு வரும் பழியையும் தமக்கு வரும் பழியையும் ஒப்பமதித்து நாணுவாரை; உலகு நாணுக்கு உறைபதி என்னும்= உலகத்தார் நாணுக்கு உறைவிடம் என்று சொல்லுவார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who shrink from blame coming to others just as sensitively as from blame to themselves are hailed by the world as the living abode of moral conscience.