Divisive Hostility
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ikalkāṇā ṉākkam varuṅkā lataṉai / mikalkāṇuṅ kēṭu taraṟku.
“Men think not hostile thought in fortune's favouring hour, / They cherish enmity when in misfortune's power.”
“When fortune is about to smile on a man he will ignore all provocation: but when Destiny hath decreed him ruin, he will set no bounds to his defiance of his neighbours.”
When gain is on its way, one overlooks hostility; when bringing ruin upon oneself, one seeks to magnify it.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆக்கம் வருங்கால் இகல் காணான்= ஒருவன் தன்கண் ஆக்கம் வரும்வழிக் காரணமுண்டாயினும் இகலை நினையான்; கேடு தரற்கு அதனை மிகல் காணும்= தனக்குக் கேடு செய்துகோடற்கண் காரணம் இன்றியும் அதன்கண் மிகுதலை நினைக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
When prosperity approaches, a person overlooks hostility even if provoked; but when ruin is imminent, they eagerly magnify every conflict without cause.