Renunciation
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talaippaṭṭār tīrat tuṟantār mayaṅki / valaippaṭṭār maṟṟai yavar
Those who have completely renounced have reached the goal; all others, bewildered, are caught in the net.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who thoroughly 'renounce' on highest height are set; / The rest bewildered, lie entangled in the net.”
“They that have renounced utterly are on the path to salvation: but the others are caught in a snare.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தீரத்துறந்தார் தலைப்பட்டார்= முற்றத்துறந்தார் வீட்டினைத் தலைப்பட்டார்; மற்றையவர் மயங்கி வலைப்பட்டார்= அங்ஙனம் துறவாதார் மயங்கிப் பிறப்பாகிய வலையுட்பட்டார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says complete renunciants attain liberation, while those who have not renounced remain deluded and caught in the net of rebirth. The text makes an exclusive religious ranking; modern presentation must preserve it without denying equal civic dignity or coercing belief.