Avoiding Faults
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varumuṉṉark kāvātāṉ vāḻkkai yerimuṉṉar / vaittūṟu pōlak keṭum
The life of one who does not guard before a fault arrives will perish like a heap of dry straw before fire.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“His joy who guards not 'gainst the coming evil day, / Like straw before the fire shall swift consume away.”
“Behold the man who provideth not beforehand against surprise: he will be destroyed even like a stack of straw before a spark of fire.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வரு முன்னர்க் காவாதான் வாழ்க்கை= குற்றம் வரக் கடவதாகின்ற முற்காலத்திலே அதனைக் காவாத அரசன் வாழ்க்கை; எரிமுன்னர் வைத்தூறு போலக் கெடும்= அது வந்தால் எரி முகத்து நின்ற வைக்குவை போல அழிந்துவிடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar applies the image to a ruler who fails to prevent a fault during the earlier period when it can be guarded against. Once the fault arrives, that exposed life is destroyed as swiftly as piled straw before fire. The verse urges timely protection against known, consequential risks; it does not command constant anxiety, impossible foresight, or blame after unforeseeable harm.