Manly Exertion
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poṟiyiṉmai yārkkum paḻiyaṉ ṟaṟivaṟin / tāḷviṉai yiṉmai paḻi.
Lack of favourable endowment or fortune is blame to no one. The blame lies in knowing the action required and making no effort when it is genuinely possible.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'Tis no reproach unpropitious fate should ban; / But not to do man's work is foul disgrace to man!”
“It is no shame if fortune faileth a man but it is a disgrace if he abstain deliberately from exertion.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொறி இன்மை யார்க்கும் யார்க்கும் பழிஅன்று= பயனைத் தருவதாய விதியில்லாமை ஒருவற்கும் பழியாகாது; அறிவு அறிந்து ஆள்வினை இன்மை பழி= அறிய வேண்டும் அவற்றை வினைசெய்யாமையே பழியாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that lacking a favourable natural or fated endowment is no blame. What is blameworthy is knowing the action required and lacking effort in carrying it out. Modern application must first verify capacity, authority, access, safety, time, and support. Poverty, disability, illness, language barriers, lack of knowledge, or powerlessness are not moral failures.