Not Offending the Great and Powerful
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
ēntiya koḷkaiyār cīṟi ṉiṭaimurintu / vēntaṉum vēntu keṭum.
“When blazes forth the wrath of men of lofty fame, / Kings even fall from high estate and perish in the flame.”
“Even the king of the Gods will fail from his place and lose his sovereignty if men of holy vows look on him in anger.”
If those holding lofty vows are angered, even a crowned king will be broken midway and lose his sovereignty.
Ask about this Kural
Answers are drawn only from this Kural's sourced text and named commentary, and always cite what they used.
Choose a section
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஏந்திய கொள்கையார் சீறின்= காத்தற்கு அருமையான் உயர்ந்த விரதங்களை உடையார் வெகுள்வாராயின்; வேந்தனும் இடை வேந்து முரிந்து கெடும்= அவர் ஆற்றலான் இந்திரனும் இடையே தன்பதம் இழந்து கெடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If sages who hold steadfast to lofty, noble vows become incensed, even a mighty sovereign will be broken in the midst of his reign and stripped of his realm.