Not Coveting
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paṭupayaṉ veḵkip paḻippaṭuva seyyār / naṭuvaṉmai nāṇu pavar
“Through lust of gain, no deeds that retribution bring, / Do they, who shrink with shame from every unjust thing.”
“Behold the men that turn away from evil: they covet not, neither do they yield to ignoble deeds.”
Those who shrink in shame from any unfairness will not, for the gain it might bring, do the shameful things coveting leads to.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
படு பயன் வெஃகிப் பழிப்படுவ செய்யார் = பிறர் பொருளை வௌவினால் தமக்கு வரும் பயனை விரும்பி, அது வௌவுதற்குப் பழியின்கண்ணே படும் செயல்களைச் செய்யார்; நடுவு அன்மை நாணுபவர் = நடுவுநிலைமை அன்மையை அஞ்சுபவர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
People who feel shame at any unfairness will not, however tempting the gain, stoop to the blameworthy acts that coveting another's wealth requires. Their conscience stops them before the deed.