Not Offending the Great and Powerful
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keṭalvēṇṭiṟ kēḷātu ceyka vaṭalvēṇṭi / ṉāṟṟu pavarka ṇiḻukku.
“Who ruin covet let them shut their ears, and do despite / To those who, where they list to ruin have the might.”
“Dost thou seek thy annihilation? then close thy ears to good counsel and offer provocation to men who have the power to destroy thee when they please.”
If one wishes for ruin, let him act without listening to wise counsel by offending those who have the power to destroy.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அடல் வேண்டின் ஆற்றுபவர்கண் இழுக்கு= வேற்றுவேந்தரைக் கோறல்வேண்டியவழி, அதனை அப்பொழுதே செய்யவல்ல வேந்தர் மாட்டுப் பிழையினை; கெடல் வேண்டின் கேளாது செய்க= தான் கெடுதல் வேண்டினான்ஆயின் ஒருவன் நீதிநூலைக் கடந்து செய்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If a person truly desires their own ruin, let them act heedlessly without listening to wise counsel—which is simply to commit offenses against the powerful elders who can destroy them.