Avoiding Forgetfulness
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uḷḷiya teyta leḷitumaṉ maṟṟuntā / ṉuḷḷiya tuḷḷap peṟiṉ.
It becomes easier for a ruler to attain the intended object if the mind can continue to hold that very intention.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'Tis easy what thou hast in mind to gain, / If what thou hast in mind thy mind retain.”
“Verily it is easy for a man to achieve all that he desireth, provided he keepeth his purpose constantly before his mind.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தான் உள்ளியது எய்துதல் எளிதுமன்- அரசனுக்குத் தான் எய்தநினைத்த பொருளை அந்நினைத்த பெற்றியே எய்துதல் எளிதாம்; மற்றும் உள்ளியது உள்ளப் பெறின்= பின்னும் அதனையே நினைக்கக் கூடுமாயின்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that it becomes easier for a ruler to attain the very object intended if the ruler can continue afterward to hold that same intention in mind.