Avoiding Fear-Inspiring Rule
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iṟaikaṭiya ṉeṉṟuraikku miṉṉāccol vēnta / ṉuṟaikaṭuki yollaik keṭum.
“'Ah! cruel is our king', where subjects sadly say, / His age shall dwindle, swift his joy of life decay.”
“Behold the prince whose cruelty is a byword among his people: his days will be shortened and he will perish forthwith.”
The ruler burdened by the bitter saying, ‘Our king is cruel,’ will have his life shortened and will quickly lose his prosperity.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இறை கடியன் என்று உரைக்கும் இன்னாச் சொல்வேந்தன்= குடிகளான் நம்மிறைவன் கடியன் என்று சொல்லப்படும் இன்னாத சொல்லையுடைய வேந்தன்; உறைகடுகி ஒல்லைக் கெடும்= ஆயுளும்குறைந்து செல்வமும் கடிதின் இழக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A monarch of whom the citizens lament 'our ruler is harsh and cruel' will see his days cut short and rapidly lose his throne.