Verse 841: Fairness under pressure
841. Fairness under pressure
நெல்வைத்தாற் சாயுங்கோல் கல்வைத்தாற் சாயுங்கோல்சொல்வைத்தாற் சாயா நடு
nelvaithaar saayungol kalvaithaar saayungolsolvaithaar saayaa nadu
Set grain on the scale and the beam tips; set a stone on it and the beam tips; set a word on it and the even-handed middle does not tip.
In Tamil, nadu, ‘the middle’, is both the beam’s centre and fairness itself, which holds firm against pressure to favour one side.