Impermanence
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neruna luḷaṉoruva ṉiṉṟillai yeṉṉum / perumai yuṭaittiv vulaku
This world possesses the striking impermanence expressed in the words: ‘One person existed yesterday; today that person is not.’
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Existing yesterday, today to nothing hurled!- / Such greatness owns this transitory world.”
“But yesterday a man was and today he is not: that is the wonder of wonders in this world.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒருவன் நெருநல் உளன் இன்று இல்லை என்னும் பெருமை உடைத்து= ஒருவன் நெருநல் உளனாயினான், அவனே இன்று இல்லையாயினான் என்று சொல்லும் நிலையாமை மிகுதி உடைத்து; இவ்வுலகு= இவ்வுலகம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says the world's instability is so great that it can be described by the plain contrast: a person was present yesterday and is absent today. The verse states mortality; it does not prescribe how anyone must grieve.