The Possession of Decorum
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oḻukkam viḻuppam taralāṉ oḻukkam / uyiriṉum ōmpap paṭum
“'Decorum' gives especial excellence; with greater care / 'Decorum' should men guard than life, which all men share.”
“The man whose conduct is pure is honoured by all: purity of conduct is therefore to be prized even above life.”
Because right conduct brings honour to everyone, guard it even more carefully than life itself.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒழுக்கம் விழுப்பம் தரலான் = ஒழுக்கம் எல்லார்க்கும் சிறப்பினைத் தருதலான்; ஒழுக்கம் உயிரினும் ஓம்பப் படும் = அவ்வொழுக்கம் உயிரினும் பாதுகாக்கப்படும். (உயிர் எல்லாப் பொருளினும் சிறந்ததாயினும் ஒழுக்கம் போல விழுப்பம் தாராமையின், 'உயிரினும் ஓம்பப்படும்' என்றார்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Because right conduct earns a person honour in everyone's eyes — high or low alike — it is something to be protected even more carefully than life. Life is precious, but it does not confer the distinction that good conduct does.