Austerity
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
oṉṉārt teṟalu muvantārai yākkalu / meṇṇiṟ ṟavattāṉ varum
The verse attributes to the power of austerity, if the practitioner so intends, the destruction of adversaries and the elevation of those who delight in it.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Destruction to his foes, to friends increase of joy. / The 'penitent' can cause, if this his thoughts employ.”
“It thou wouldst destroy thy foes and exalt those that love thee, know that such a power belongeth unto tapas.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
(இதன்பொருள்) ஒன்னார்த் தெறலும்= தம் மறத்திற்குப் பகையாய் அழிவு செய்தாரைக் கெடுத்தலும்; உவந்தாரை ஆக்கலும்= அதனை உவந்தாரை உயர்த்தலும் ஆகிய இவ்விரண்டையும்; எண்ணின் தவத்தான் வரும்= தவம்செய்வார் நினைப்பாராயின் அவர் தவவலியான் அவை அவர்க்கு உளவாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar presents an extraordinary power claim: by ascetic force, practitioners may destroy enemies who oppose their virtue and raise supporters. He also notes that complete renunciants ordinarily have neither enemies nor favourites, so the power is attributed rather than expected to be used.