Avoiding Forgetfulness
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pukaḻntavai pōṟṟic ceyalvēṇṭuñ ceyyā / tikaḻntārk keḻumaiyu mil.
“Let things that merit praise thy watchful soul employ; / Who these despise attain through sevenfold births no joy.”
“The prince shall devote himself assiduously to works that are commended by the wise: if he neglect them he will suffer in all his future births.”
A ruler must carefully perform the actions that ethical authors praise as proper to rule; Parimelazhagar says that those who neglect them have no good even across seven births.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
புகழ்ந்தவை போற்றிச் செயல்வேண்டும்= நீதி நூலுடையார் இவை அரசர்க்கு உரியன என்று உயர்த்துக்கூறிய செயல்களைக் கடைப்பிடித்துச் செய்க; செய்யாது இகழ்ந்தார்க்கு எழுமையும் இல்= அங்ஙனம் செய்யாது மறந்தவர்க்கு எழுமையினும் நன்மையில்லை ஆகலான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A leader must diligently perform the noble duties commended by the wise; those who neglect them in heedless disregard will never attain lasting good.