Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
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iṭumpaik kiṭumpai paṭuppa riṭumpaik / kiṭumpai paṭāa tavar.
Those who do not surrender to grief when adversity interrupts their work put adversity itself under strain until its hold weakens.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who griefs confront with meek, ungrieving heart, / From them griefs, put to grief, depart.”
“Troubles they send away troubled who trouble not themselves at the sight of troubles.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இடும்பைக்கு இடும்பை படாதவர்= வினைசெய்யுங்கால் அதற்கிடையே வந்த துன்பத்திற்கு வருந்தாதவர்; இடும்பைக்கு இடும்பை படுப்பர்= அத்துன்பந்தனக்கு தாம் துன்பம் விளைப்பர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that one who does not inwardly grieve and collapse when trouble interrupts an undertaking causes the trouble itself to suffer. The object is adversity, not another person: by continuing the fitting response without yielding inwardly, the obstacle loses its grip.