False Conduct
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neñciṟ ṟuṟavār tuṟantārpōl vañcittu / vāḻvāriṉ vaṇkaṇā ril
“In mind renouncing nought, in speech renouncing every tie, / Who guileful live,- no men are found than these of 'harder eye'.”
“Behold the man that hath not renounced in his heart, but walketh about like one that hath renounced, and cheateth men: there is none more hard of heart than he.”
None is more hard-hearted than those who have not renounced attachment inwardly, yet live by deceiving others as though they had renounced.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நெஞ்சின் துறவார்= நெஞ்சாற் பற்று அறாதுவைத்து; துறந்தார்போல் வஞ்சித்து வாழ்வாரின்= பறறற்றார் போன்று தானம் செய்வாரை வஞ்சித்து வாழும் அவர்போல்; வண்கணார் இல்= வன்கண்மையை உடையார் உலகத்தில் இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
There are no individuals more utterly ruthless than those who, without renouncing desire in their hearts, masquerade as holy ascetics to deceive and exploit generous believers.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review