Resolute Effort
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ākka matarviṉāyc cellu macaivilā / vūkka muṭaiyā ṉuḻai.
Prosperity will ask the way and go to the person whose resolve does not waver.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The man of energy of soul inflexible, / Good fortune seeks him out and comes a friend to dwell.”
“Behold the man who remitteth not ever from his activity: Good Fortune inquireth the way to his home.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அசைவு இலா ஊக்கம் உடையானுழை= அசைவில்லாத ஊக்கத்தை உடையான் மாட்டு; ஆக்கம் அதர் வினாய்ச் செல்லும்= பொருள்தானே வழி வினவிக்கொண்டு செல்லும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that material prosperity itself will ask the way and go to the person of unwavering resolve. The statement poetically personifies prosperity as a traveller seeking that person.