Possession of Knowledge
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etiratāk kākku maṟiviṉārk killai / yatira varuvatōr nōy
No suffering arrives to make those with foresight tremble when they understand what is coming and protect against it in advance.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The wise with watchful soul who coming ills foresee; / From coming evil's dreaded shock are free.”
“Behold the man of foresight who is armed for every contingency: he will never know the blow that causeth trembling.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
எதிரதாக் காக்கும் அறிவினார்க்கு= வரக்கடவதாகிய அதனை முன் அறிந்து காக்கவல்ல அறிவினை உடையார்க்கு; அதிரவருவது ஓர் நோய்- அவர் நடுங்க வருவதொரு துன்பமும் இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar praises those able to know a coming trouble and guard against it before arrival, so that no shock makes them tremble. The absolute is praise for foresight, not a guarantee against all harm or grounds to blame those harmed.