The Possession of Decorum
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oḻukkam uṭaiyavarkku ollāvē tīya / vaḻukkiyum vāyāṟ solal
“It cannot be that they who 'strict decorum's' law fulfil, / E'en in forgetful mood, should utter words of ill.”
“Foul words can never fall from the lips of the well-bred, even when off their guard.”
Those who truly possess good conduct cannot let a cruel word leave their lips, even by a slip.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வழுக்கியும் தீய வாயால் சொலல் = மறந்தும் தீய சொற்களைத் தம் வாயால் சொல்லும் தொழில்கள்; ஒழுக்கம் உடையவர்க்கு ஒல்லா = ஒழுக்கம் உடையவர்க்கு முடியா. (தீய சொற்களாவன: பிறர்க்குத் தீங்கு பயக்கும் பொய் முதலியனவும், வருணத்திற்கு உரிய அல்லனவும் ஆம்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who genuinely possess good conduct cannot bring themselves to speak a cruel word even by accident; harmful speech simply will not come from such lips. The discipline has gone so deep that it holds even in an unguarded moment.
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