Testing and Trusting People
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kuṭippiṟantu kuṟṟatti ṉīṅki vaṭuppariyu / nāṇuṭaiyāṉ kaṭṭē teḷivu.
“Of noble race, of faultless worth, of generous pride / That shrinks from shame or stain; in him may king confide.”
“Behold the man who is born of a good family, who is free from faults and who dreadeth disgrace: he is the man for thee.”
In the classical claim, confidence rests only with one born into a high lineage, free from faults, and possessed of a conscience that fears disgrace.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
குடிப்பிறந்து= உயர்ந்த குடியிற் பிறந்து; குற்றத்தின் நீங்கி= குற்றங்களினின்று நீங்கி; வடுப் பரியும் நாண் உடையான் கட்டே தெளிவு= நமக்கு வடு வருங்கொல் என்று அஞ்சாநிற்கும் நாண் உடையவன்கண்ணதே அரசனது தெளிவு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Unwavering trust should be placed in someone who comes from a noble heritage, lives free from moral reproach, and shrinks with deep shame at the mere thought of disgrace.