Avoiding Fear-Inspiring Rule
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ceruvanta pōḻtiṟ ciṟaiceyyā vēntaṉ / veruvantu veytu keṭum.
The king who has not built a fort before war arrives will be seized by fear when battle comes and will perish swiftly.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who builds no fort whence he may foe defy, / In time of war shall fear and swiftly die.”
“Behold the prince who looketh not to his defences while yet there is time: when he is surprised by a war be will be seized with trembling and perish quickly.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சிறை செய்யா வேந்தன்= செருவருதற்கு முன்னே தனக்குப் புகல் ஆவதோர் அரண் செய்துகொள்ளாத அரசன்; செருவந்த போழ்தில் வெருவந்து வெய்து கெடும்= அது வந்த காலத்து ஏமம் இன்மையான் வெருவிக் கடிதிற் கெடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that a king who failed to build a fort as a place of refuge before the enemy arrived will, when war comes, be terrified by the absence of protection and perish quickly.