Resolute Effort
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veḷḷat taṉaiya malarnīṭṭa māntarta / muḷḷat taṉaiya tuyarvu.
As the water flower's stem reaches according to the depth of standing water, people's elevation corresponds to the measure of their inward resolve.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“With rising flood the rising lotus flower its stem unwinds; / The dignity of men is measured by their minds.”
“The water with which a plant is watered is the measure of the luxuriance of its flower: even so, the spirit of a man is the measure of his fortunes.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வெள்ளத்து அனைய மலர்நீட்டம்= நின்ற நீரின் அளவினவாம் நீர்ப்பூக்களின் தாளினது நீளங்கள்; மாந்தர்தம் உள்ளத்து அனையது உயர்வு= அதுபோல் மக்கள்தம் ஊக்கத்து அளவினதாம் அவர் உயர்ச்சி.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the stalks of water flowers extend according to the measure of standing water; likewise, people's advancement corresponds to the measure of their energetic resolve.