The Conduct of Affairs
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naṭṭārkku nalla ceyaliṉ viraintatē / yoṭṭārai yoṭṭik koḷal.
“Than kindly acts to friends more urgent thing to do, / Is making foes to cling as friends attached to you.”
“Placate enemies even more swiftly than thou rewardest friends.”
More urgent than doing good to existing allies is winning as allies those who are not joined to the opposing side.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நட்டார்க்கு நல்ல செயலின் விரைந்ததே= வினைசெய்வானால், தன் நட்டார்க்கு இனியவற்றைச் செய்தலினும் விரைந்து செய்யப்படும்; ஒட்டாரை ஒட்டிக் கொளல்= தன் பகைவரோடு ஒட்டாரைத் தனக்கு நட்பாக்கிக் கோடல்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even more urgent than doing favors for existing friends is winning over and allying with neutrals who have not joined the enemy.