Purity of Action
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eṉṟu moruvutal vēṇṭum pukaḻoṭu / naṉṟi payavā viṉai.
“From action evermore thyself restrain / Of glory and of good that yields no gain.”
“Always turn thy face away from those deeds that bring not glory as well as profit.”
Always abandon any action that yields neither honour nor moral good.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
புகழொடு நன்றி பயவா வினை= தம் அரசனுக்கு இம்மைக்கண் புகழும் மறுமைக்கண் அறமும் பயவாத வினைகளை; என்றும் ஒருவுதல் வேண்டும்= அமைச்சர்க்கு எக்காலத்தும் ஒழிதல் வேண்டும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
One must at all times scrupulously shun any action that fails to produce both enduring honor and righteous virtue.