The Utterance of Pleasant Words
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mukattāṉ amarntini tu nōkki akattāṉām / iṉco liṉatē aṟam
“With brightly beaming smile, and kindly light of loving eye, And heart sincere, to utter pleasant words is charity.”
“Behold the sweet and gracious look and the kind speech that cometh from the heart: Righteousness hath its dwelling place there.”
To look upon another with a beaming gaze and speak words flowing sincerely from the heart is true virtue.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
முகத்தான் அமர்ந்து இனிது நோக்கி = கண்டபொழுதே முகத்தான் விரும்பி இனிதாக நோக்கி; அகத்தான் ஆம் இன்சொலினதே அறம் = பின் நண்ணியவழி மனத்துடனாகிய இனிய சொற்களைச் சொல்லுதலின் கண்ணே அறம். (ஈதலின் கண்ணது அன்று என்றவாறு.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
To look upon another with a beaming, gentle gaze and utter words that flow sincerely from the heart is the true essence of virtue.