Eloquence
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ākkamuṅ kēṭu mataṉāl varutalāṟ / kāttōmpal colliṉkaṭ cōrvu.
“Since gain and loss in life on speech depend, / From careless slip in speech thyself defend.”
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: guard thou therefore against imprudence of speech.”
Because gain and ruin can arise through speech, guard carefully against a lapse in what you say.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆக்கமும் கேடும் அதனால் வருதலால்=தம் அரசற்கும், அங்கங்கட்கும் ஆக்க அழிவுகள் தம் சொல்லான் வரும்ஆகலான்; சொல்லின்கண் சோர்வு காத்து ஓம்பல்= அப்பெற்றித்தாய சொல்லின்கண் சோர்தலை, அமைச்சர் தம்கண் நிகழாமற் போற்றிக் காக்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Because wealth and ruin both proceed directly from the words one utters, one must guard with utmost vigilance against any careless slip of speech.