Knowing Strength
தில்.
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olvataṟiva taṟintataṉ kaṭṭaṅkic / celvārkkuc cellāta til.
For those who know what is possible, learn what it requires, and remain fixed upon it, nothing is unattainable.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who know what can be wrought, with knowledge of the means, on this, / Their mind firm set, go forth, nought goes with them amiss.”
“Behold the prince who knoweth his own force and hath learned what he ought to learn, and who oversteppeth not the limits his force and information: his invasions will never fail.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒல்வது அறிவது அறிந்து= தமக்கியலும் வினையையும் அதற்கறிய வேண்டுவதாய வலியையும் அறிந்து; அதன்கண் தங்கிச் செல்வார்க்கு= எப்பொழுதும் மன மொழி மெய்களை அதன்கண் வைத்துப் பகைமேற் செல்லும் அரசர்க்கு; செல்லாதது இல்= முடியாத பொருள் இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar links success to knowing the feasible undertaking, learning its requirements, and keeping thought, speech, and action steadily centred upon it.