Internal Enmity
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aramporuta poṉpōlat tēyu muramporu / tuṭpakai yuṟṟa kuṭi.
“As gold with which the file contends is worn away, / So strength of house declines where hate concealed hath sway.”
“Behold the house that is divided against itself: it will crumble to dust even like a piece of iron that is filed with a file.”
A household afflicted by internal enmity has its strength worn away, as iron is worn down by the file that rubs against it.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உட்பகை யுற்ற குடி= முன் வளர்ந்து வந்ததாயினும் உட்பகையுண்டாய குடி; அரம் பொருத பொன்போலப் பொருது உரம் தேயும்= அரத்தாற் பொரப்பட்ட இரும்புபோல அதனாற் பொரப்பட்டு வலி தேயும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even a house that once rose to great eminence will see its strength inexorably ground down by internal enmity, just as solid iron is worn away by the abrasive friction of a file.