Compassion
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aruḷcērnta neñciṉārk killai yiruḷcērnta / viṉṉā vulakam pukal
Entry into the dark world of suffering does not befall those whose hearts are filled with compassion.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“They in whose breast a 'gracious kindliness' resides, / See not the gruesome world, where darkness drear abides.”
“They enter not into the dark and bitter world whose heart is joined unto mercy.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இருள் சேர்ந்த இன்னா உலகம் புகல்= இருள்செறிந்த துன்ப உலகத்துள் சென்று புகுதல்; அருள் சேர்ந்த நெஞ்சினார்க்கு இல்லை- அருள் செறிந்த நெஞ்சினை உடையார்க்கு இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar reads the verse as a religious claim: those who possess hearts densely filled with compassion do not enter the dark, painful world. It is an otherworldly assurance in the commentary, not a promise that compassionate people will avoid illness, grief, injustice, or other hardship in this life.