Impartiality
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soṟkōṭṭam illatu seppam orutalaiyā / uṭkōṭṭam iṉmai peṟiṉ
“Inflexibility in word is righteousness, / If men inflexibility of soul possess.”
“Behold the man who swerveth not at all from the right in his own mind: the upright speech of his lips is a judgment.”
Straight speech is fairness — but only when it rests on a mind with no inner bias.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செப்பம் சொல் கோட்டம் இல்லது = நடுவுநிலைமை ஆவது, சொல்லின்கண் கோடுதல் இல்லாததாம்; உள் கோட்டம் இன்மை ஒருதலையாப் பெறின் = அஃது அன்னது ஆவது, மனத்தின்கண் கோட்டம் இன்மையைத் திண்ணிதாகப் பெறின்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Straightness in speech is impartiality — but only when it rests on a mind with no inner bias. Honest words count as fair only if the heart behind them does not lean to one side.