Renown
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nattampōṟ kēṭu muḷatākuñ cākkāṭum / vittakark kallā laritu
Material loss that becomes gain for the enduring ‘body’ of renown, and bodily death through which that renown remains present, are difficult achievements except for people of rare discernment.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Loss that is gain, and death of life's true bliss fulfilled, / Are fruits which only wisdom rare can yield.”
“The ruin that addeth unto fame and the death that bringeth glory belong only to the great-souled.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நத்தம் ஆகும் கேடும்= புகழுடம்பிற்கு ஆக்கமாகும் கேடும்; உளது ஆகும் சாக்காடும்= புகழுடம்பு உளதாகும் சாக்காடும்; வித்தகர்க்கு அல்லால் அரிது= சதுரப்பாடுடையார்க்கு அல்லது இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar distinguishes the perishable body from a figurative body made of renown. He reads one paradox as material loss becoming growth for that renown-body, and the other as bodily death making the renown-body remain present; only people of exceptional discernment can accomplish such reversals.