Nobility of Character
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iṟpiṟantār kaṇṇalla tillai yiyalpākac / ceppamum nāṇu moruṅku.
“Save in the scions of a noble house, you never find / Instinctive sense of right and virtuous shame combined.”
“Rectitude and a sense of shame come by nature only to men who are born of a good family.”
Upright integrity and modesty dwell naturally together only in those of noble heritage.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செப்பமும் நாணும் ஒருங்கு= செம்மையும் நாணும் சேர; இற்பிறந்தார்கண் அல்லது இயல்பாக இல்லை= குடிப்பிறந்தார் மாட்டல்லது பிறர்மாட்டு இயற்கையாக உளவாகா.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Unswerving rectitude and conscientious modesty dwell naturally together only in those born of noble, virtuous heritage.