Renunciation
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maṟṟun toṭarppā ṭevaṉkol piṟappaṟukka / luṟṟārk kuṭampu mikai
For those undertaking to cut off rebirth, even the body is an excess; what need, then, is there for any further bonds?
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To those who sev'rance seek from being's varied strife, / Flesh is burthen sore; what then other bonds of life?”
“To those that desire to put an end to their reincarnations, even the body is a superfluity: how much more then are other bonds?”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பிறப்பு அறுக்கல் உற்றார்க்கு உடம்பும் மிகை= பிறப்பு அறுத்தலை மேற்கொண்டார்க்கு அதற்குக் கருவியாகிய உடம்பும் மிகையாம்; மற்றும் தொடர்ப்பாடு எவன்கொல்= ஆனபின் அதற்கு மேலே இயைபு இல்லனவும் சில தொடர்ப்பாடு உளவாதல் என்னாம்!
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that for seekers committed to ending rebirth, even the body used as an instrument toward that goal is surplus. Therefore attachments to unrelated external things are still more unnecessary. This ascetic judgement must not become body hatred or self-harm.