Comporting Oneself Before Princes
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vēṭpaṉa colli viṉaiyila veññāṉṟuṅ / kēṭpiṉuñ collā viṭal.
“Speak pleasant things, but never utter idle word; / Not though by monarch's ears with pleasure heard.”
“Speak those things before the prince that are pleasant to him; but things that are unprofitable, speak not ever even if he demandeth.”
Proactively state matters that are both welcome and substantially useful; leave useless matters unsaid even when the ruler asks for them.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வேட்பன சொல்லி= பயன் பெரியனவுமாய், அரசன் விரும்புவனவுமாய காரியங்களை அவன் கேட்டிலனாயினும் சொல்லி, எஞ்ஞான்றும் வினை இல கேட்பினும் சொல்லாவிடல்= எஞ்ஞான்றும் பயனிலவாயவற்றைத் தானே கேட்டாலும் சொல்லாது விடுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Speak matters of genuine benefit that delight; but completely refrain from uttering useless, trivial chatter at all times, even if the ruler explicitly asks.