Comporting Oneself Before Princes
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epporuḷu mōrār toṭarārmaṟ ṟapporuḷai / viṭṭakkāṟ kēṭka maṟai.
“Seek not, ask not, the secret of the king to hear; / But if he lets the matter forth, give ear!”
“Do not try to overhear any conversation nor to fish out that which is withheld from thee: and then only receive the secret when it is imparted to thee.”
Do not overhear or press to discover any of the ruler's secrets; listen when the ruler voluntarily discloses the matter.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மறை= அரசனுக்குப் பிறரோடு மறை நிகழ்வுழி; எப்பொருளும் ஓரார்= யாதொரு பொருளையும் செவி கொடுத்துக் கேளாது; தொடரார்= அவனை முடுகி வினவுவதுஞ் செய்யாது; அப்பொருளை விட்டக்கால் கேட்க= அம்மறைப்பொருளை அவன் தானே அடக்காது சொல்லியக்கால் கேட்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Never eavesdrop on confidential matters; never pry with intrusive questions; listen only when the ruler voluntarily chooses to reveal the secret.