Not Offending The Great [from 'naaladiyaar' In Tamil] Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

161. O, Chief of the beauteous hills where breaking
the rattling streams on rocks! Don't do painful deeds
'gainst the faultless great, thinking they'd tolerate.
Once you draw their ire, it'll be hard to vent it.

162. When one can get the friendship of the high-born
without giving gold or making hard attempts,
why the ignorant people waste their time
in useless means without moving with the great?

163. Though the high-born value respect and reproach,
when the mean who don't know good and bad,
shower praises or shout insults at them,
they do not pay heed to them.

164. E'en the hooded cobra lies in the safe cleft
of the land, fears by the noise of the thunder
from afar. Those who hurt the great people,
though they're in a haven, can't escape their wrath.

165. Take no notice of self-effacing braggarts
Who say, "You know not who we're! Nowhere you find
our equals." Have high regard to great people
who're virtuous and be simple to others.

166. O, Chief of the vast cool coast! Friendship with mean
wanes like the shadow cast in the rising sun.
But friendship with the people of old repute
waxes like the shadows due to evening sun.

167. Thickly grown trees with flourishing bent branches
give cool shades to those who seek it for rest.
The King's wealth and the grace of the whore are there
to consume and surfeit for those who approach.

168. O, Chief of the vast coast with e'er wet salt pan!
It is sad to put an end to the friendship
even with the stupids. So you had better
make not close friendship with anyone.

169. The day wasted without reading great works,
the day spent idly not meeting the wise men,
the day gone not giving enough to the poor;
these days, to tell, don't befall in great men's life.

170. On probing, you find the greatness of the great
is their simplicity. Self-restraint is their
excellent virtue. The rich are rich
if they weed out hunger of the needy.