The Greatness of Ascetics
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thuṟandhār perumai thuṇaikkūṟiṉ vaiyattu / iṟandhārai eṇṇikkoṇ ḍaṟṟu
Try to measure the greatness of those who have renounced, and you set yourself an impossible sum — like counting everyone who has ever lived and died.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“As counting those that from the earth have passed away, 'Tis vain attempt the might of holy men to say.”
“Thou canst not measure the greatness of ascetics: thou canst as well count the number of the dead.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
துறந்தார் பெருமை துணைக் கூறின் = இருவகைப் பற்றினையும் விட்டாரது பெருமையை இவ்வளவு என்று கூறி அறியலுறின், அளவுபடாமையான்; வையத்து இறந்தாரை எண்ணிக்கொண்டு அற்று = இவ்வுலகத்துப் பிறந்து இறந்தாரை எண்ணி இத்துணையர் என அறியலுற்றாற் போலும். (முடியாது என்பதாம்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Measuring the greatness of renouncers is as impossible as counting everyone who has died in the world.