Knowing the Assembly
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avaiyaṟiyār collaṉmēṟ koḷpavar colliṉ / vakaiyaṟiyār vallatūu mil.
“Unversed in councils, who essays to speak. / Knows not the way of suasive words,- and all is weak.”
“Behold the men that take upon themselves to address an assembly without studying its nature: they know not the art of speaking nor are they good for anything else.”
Those who take up speaking without knowing the assembly understand neither the forms of speech nor any art they claim to command.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அவை அறியார் சொல்லல் மேற்கொள்பவர் சொல்லின் வகை அறியார்= அவையினது அளவையறியாது ஒன்று சொல்லுதலைத் தம் மேற்கொள்வார் அச்சொல்லுதலின் கூறுபாடும் அறியார்; வல்லதூஉம் இல்= கற்றுவல்ல கலையும் அவர்க்கு இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who attempt to deliver speeches without judging the temperament of the audience understand nothing of language, nor do they possess true ability.