Ending Desire
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ārā viyaṟkai yavānīppi ṉannilaiyē / pērā viyaṟkai tarum
If one removes desire, whose nature is never to be filled, that very state gives a nature that never departs from stability.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Drive from thy soul desire insatiate; / Straight'way is gained the moveless blissful state.”
“Desire is never filled: but if a man giveth it up he attaineth perfection even at that very moment.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆரா இயற்கை அவா நீப்பின்= ஒருகாலும் நிரம்பாத இயல்பினை உடைய அவாவினை ஒருவன் நீக்குமாயின்; அந்நிலையே பேரா இயற்கை தரும்= அந்நீப்பு அவனுக்கு அப்பொழுதே எஞ்ஞான்றும் ஒரு நிலையனாம் இயல்பைக் கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The commentary says that when a person removes craving, which by nature is never full, that removal immediately gives a nature that remains in one stable state forever. This is the text's account of liberation, not an instant guarantee about ordinary mood or circumstance.