The Councillor of State
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paḻuteṇṇu mantiriyiṟ pakkattuṭ ṭevvō / reḻupatu kōṭi yuṟum.
“A minister who by king's side plots evil things / Worse woes than countless foemen brings.”
“Behold the minister that sitteth in the Council and plotteth the ruin of his prince: he is more dangerous than seven hundred million enemies.”
One minister beside the ruler who secretly plans harm brings greater danger than an immense multitude of open enemies.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பக்கத்துள் பழுது எண்ணும் மந்திரியின்= பக்கத்திருந்து பிழைப்ப எண்ணும் அமைச்சன் ஒருவனில்; ஓர் எழுபது கோடி தெவ் உறும்= அரசனுக்கு எதிர்நிற்பார் ஓர் எழுபது கோடி பகைவர் உறுவர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A treacherous counselor harboring deceit at the leader's side poses a far greater danger than seventy crore open enemies attacking from without.