Honour
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talaiyi ṉiḻinta mayiraṉaiyar māntar / nilaiyi ṉiḻintak kaṭai.
“Like hairs from off the head that fall to earth, / When fall'n from high estate are men of noble birth.”
“Behold the men that have soiled a name that was honourable: they are even as the locks of hair that have been shaven off the head and thrown away.”
Like hair fallen from the head, despised by all, are those who fall from their high station of honor.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மாந்தர்= குடிப்பிறந்த மாந்தர்; நிலையின் இழிந்தக் கடை= தம் உயர்ந்த நிலையை விட்டு அதனினின்றும் தாழ்ந்தவழி; தலையின் இழிந்த மயிர் அனையர்= தலையைவிட்டு அதனினின்றும் வீழ்ந்த மயிரினை ஒப்பர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
People who fall from their high station of dignity and virtue are like hairs that have fallen from the head, discarded and despised by all.