Impartiality
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naṉṟē tariṉum naṭuvikantām ākkattai / aṉṟē oḻiyaviṭal
Even if it brings only profit, let go the very day it comes of any wealth gained by swerving from what is fair.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though only good it seem to give, yet gain / By wrong acquired, not e'en one day retain!”
“Though nought but profit come of it, touch not the wealth that cometh by deviating from the right.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நன்றே தரினும் = தீங்கு அன்றி நன்மையே பயந்ததாயினும்; நடுவு இகந்து ஆம் ஆக்கத்தை அன்றே ஒழிய விடல் = நடுவுநிற்றலை ஒழிதலான் உண்டாகின்ற ஆக்கத்தை அப்பொழுதே ஒழிய விடுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even if it brings nothing but profit, wealth gained by swerving from fairness should be let go the very day it arrives. Tainted gain is not worth keeping even for a single day.