Dread of Evil Deeds
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tīyavai seytār keṭutal niḻaltaṉṉai / vīyātu aṭiyuṟain taṟṟu
“Man's shadow dogs his steps where'er he wends; / Destruction thus on sinful deeds attends.”
“As the shadow leaveth not a man but doggeth his steps wherever he goeth, even so do evil deeds pursue their author and work his destruction.”
The ruin of those who commit evil resembles a person's shadow: it never departs, but clings to their very steps wherever they go.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தீயவை செய்தார் கெடுதல் = பிறர்க்குத் தீவினைகளைச் செய்தார் தாம் கெடுதல் எத்தன்மைத்து எனின்; நிழல் தன்னை வீயாது அடிஉறைந்தற்று = ஒருவன் நிழல் நெடிதாகப் போயும், அவன் தன்னை விடாது வந்து அடியின்கண் தங்கிய தன்மைத்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The ruin of those who commit evil resembles a person's shadow: it never departs, but clings to their very steps wherever they go.