Not Envying
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aḻukkāṟṟiṉ allavai seyyār iḻukkāṟṟiṉ / ētam paṭupākku aṟintu
The wise never do wrong out of envy, because they know the suffering that wrong path brings on them.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The wise through envy break not virtue's laws, / Knowing ill-deeds of foul disgrace the cause.”
“The wise injure not others through envy: for they know the evils that result therefrom.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அழுக்காற்றின் அல்லவை செய்யார் = அழுக்காறு ஏதுவாக அறன் அல்லவற்றைச் செய்யார் அறிவுடையார்; இழுக்காற்றின் ஏதம் படுபாக்கு அறிந்து = அத் தீநெறியால் தமக்கு இருமையினும் துன்பம் வருதலை அறிந்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The wise never let envy push them into doing wrong to those who have wealth or learning, because they understand the suffering — in this life and the next — that such a path brings on themselves.