Not Offending the Great and Powerful
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periyāraip pēṇā toḻukiṟ periyārāṟ / pērā viṭumpai tarum.
“If men will lead their lives reckless of great men's will, / Such life, through great men's powers, will bring perpetual ill.”
“If a man slighteth the Great Ones, their power will bring down on him miseries without end.”
If one conducts oneself without revering the great, it will bring unending misery through their power.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பெரியாரைப் பேணாது ஒழுகின்= ஆற்றல்களாற் பெரியர் ஆயினாரை வேந்தர் நன்கு மதியாது அவமதித்து ஒழுகுவாராயின்; பெரியாரால் பேரா இடும்பைதரும்= அவ்வொழுக்கம் அப்பெரியாரால் அவர்க்கு எஞ்ஞான்றும் நீங்காத துன்பங்களைக் கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If one behaves disrespectfully toward the great without honoring their wisdom and stature, it will bring about relentless, unceasing distress from them.