The Character of Enmity
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koṭuttuṅ koḷalvēṇṭu maṉṟa vaṭuttiruntu / māṇāta ceyvāṉ pakai.
“Unseemly are his deeds, yet proffering aid, the man draws nigh: / His hate- 'tis cheap at any price- be sure to buy!”
“Behold the prince who undertaketh an enterprise but doth things that accord not with its success: verily one should seek his enmity even by paying a price for it if necessary.”
Even at some cost, one should surely take up opposition to a person who has begun an undertaking yet keeps doing what is unfit for it.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அடுத்து இருந்து மாணாத செய்வான் பகை= வினையைத் தொடங்கியிருந்து அதற்கு ஏலாதன செய்வான் பகைமையை; கொடுத்தும் கொளல் மன்ற வேண்டும்= சில பொருள் அழியக் கொடுத்தாயினும் கோடல் ஒருதலையாக வேண்டும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The enmity of a person who undertakes an enterprise but acts in total discord with its success should be eagerly secured, even at the cost of spending some wealth.