Courtesy and Consideration
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naṇpāṟṟā rāki nayamila ceyvārkkum / paṇpāṟṟā rātal kaṭai.
“Though men with all unfriendly acts and wrongs assail, / 'Tis uttermost disgrace in 'courtesy' to fail.”
“Discourtesy is unbecoming in a man, even were it only against men who are unfriendly and unjust.”
To withhold gracious courtesy even from those who show hostility is the lowest failure for the wise.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நண்பு ஆற்றார் ஆகி நயமில செய்வார்க்கும்= தம்மொடு நட்பினைச் செய்யாது பகைமையைச் செய்து ஒழுகுவார் மாட்டும்; பண்பு ஆற்றாராதல் கடை= தாம் பண்புடையராய் ஒழுகாமை அறிவுடையார்க்கு இழுக்காம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Failing to act with noble courtesy even toward those who show no friendship and commit hostile acts is, for the wise, the lowest failure of character.