Resolute Effort
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uḷḷa muṭaimai yuṭaimai poruḷuṭaimai / nillātu nīṅki viṭum.
Possession of inward resolve is the possession that endures; material possession does not remain, but departs.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The wealth of mind man owns a real worth imparts, / Material wealth man owns endures not, utterly departs.”
“Energy is the veritable possession of a man: for wealth endureth not forever and will depart from him one day.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உள்ளம் உடைமை உடைமை= ஊக்கம் உடைமையே ஒருவனுக்கு நிலைநின்ற உடைமையாவது; பொருள் உடைமை நில்லாது நீங்கி விடும்= மற்றைப் பொருளுடைமை நிலைநில்லாது நீங்கிப்போம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar construes உள்ளம் here as energetic resolve. Possessing that resolve is a stable possession, whereas possession of external wealth does not remain but leaves its holder.