Following a Wife's Direction
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illāḷkaṭ ṭāḻnta viyalpiṉmai yeññāṉṟu / nallāru ṇāṇut tarum.
“Who to his wife submits, his strange, unmanly mood / Will daily bring him shame among the good.”
“The weakling who humbleth himself before his wife will always be ashamed to show his face before the worthy.”
The servility of submitting meekly to one's wife will always cause shame among the noble.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இல்லாள்கண் தாழ்ந்த இயல்பு இன்மை= ஒருவன் இல்லாள்மாட்டுத் தாழ்தற்கு ஏதுவாய அச்சம்; நல்லாருள் நாணு எஞ்ஞான்றும் தரும்= அஃதிலராய நல்லாரிடைச் செல்லுங்கால், நாணுதலை அவனுக்கு எக்காலத்தும் கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The servile weakness of cowering before one's wife will, at all times, cause deep embarrassment and shame in the company of noble people.