Honour
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cīriṉuñ cīralla ceyyārē cīroṭu / pērāṇmai vēṇṭu pavar
“Who seek with glory to combine honour's untarnished fame, / Do no inglorious deeds, though men accord them glory's name.”
“Behold the men that desire to leave an honoured name behind them: they will not do that which is not right even for the sake of glory.”
Those who seek renown with steadfast honor will never stoop to unworthy deeds, even for fame.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சீரினும் சீர் அல்ல செய்யாரே= புகழ்செய்யும் இடத்தும் தம் குடிமைக்கு ஒவ்வாத இளிவரவுகளைச் செய்யார்; சீரொடு பேராண்மை வேண்டுபவர்= புகழுடனே மானத்தை நிறுத்துதலை விரும்புவார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who cherish noble honor along with enduring renown will never commit ignoble deeds, even if such acts promise worldly fame.