Abstaining from Anger
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ciṉameṉṉuñ cērntāraik kolli yiṉameṉṉu / mēmap puṇaiyaic cuṭum
“Wrath, the fire that slayeth whose draweth near, / Will burn the helpful 'raft' of kindred dear.”
“Choler destroyeth every man whom it approacheth: and it burneth also the family of him who nurseth it.”
Anger is like a fire that harms the person it grips and can burn through the protective raft of supportive relationships around them.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சினம் என்னும் சேர்ந்தாரைக் கொல்லி= சினம் என்னும் நெருப்பு; இனம் என்னும் ஏமப் புணையைச் சுடும்= தனக்கு இனமானவரையே அன்றி, அவர்க்கு இனமாகிய ஏமப்புணையைச் சுடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Anger is a fire that destroys the very person harboring it; spreading outward, it also scorches the protective raft of loving kin and companions.