Acting after Deliberation
படும்.
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āṟṟiṉ varuntā varuttam palarniṉṟu / pōṟṟiṉum pottup paṭum.
Effort not pursued through a means capable of completing it will expose its flaw even when many people stand together to support it.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“On no right system if man toil and strive, / Though many men assist, no work can thrive.”
“Behold the man that goeth not to his work the right way about: all his labour will be a waste even if numbers come to his aid.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆற்றின் வருந்தா வருத்தம்= முடியும் உபாயத்தால் கருமத்தை முயலாத முயற்சி; பலர் நின்று போற்றினும் பொத்துப்படும்= துணைவர் பலர்நின்று புரைபடாமல் காப்பினும் புரைபடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar distinguishes effort from method. Many supporters cannot conceal or repair the structural flaw in labour that does not follow a workable means.