Dread of Evil Deeds
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tīyavai tīya payattalāl tīyavai / tīyiṉum añcap paṭum
“Since evils new from evils ever grow, / Evil than fire works out more dreaded woe.”
“Evil bringeth forth evil: evil therefore shall be feared even more than fire.”
Because evil deeds inevitably produce suffering for the doer, one must fear doing evil even more than physical fire. Fire burns only what it touches; evil deeds destroy one's soul and posterity.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தீயவை தீய பயத்தலால் = தனக்கு இன்பம் பயத்தலைக் கருதிச் செய்யும் தீவினைகள் பின் அஃது ஒழித்துத் துன்பமே பயத்தலான்; தீயவை தீயினும் அஞ்சப் படும் = அத்தன்மையாகிய தீவினைகள் ஒருவனால் தீயினும் அஞ்சப்படும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Because evil deeds inevitably produce suffering for the doer, one must fear doing evil even more than physical fire. Fire burns only what it touches; evil deeds destroy one's soul and posterity.