Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
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aṭukki variṉu maḻivilā ṉuṟṟa / viṭukka ṇiṭukkaṭ paṭum.
Even when adversities arrive one upon another, they themselves are worn down against a person whose inner purpose does not disintegrate.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“When griefs press on, but fail to crush the patient heart, / Then griefs defeated, put to grief, depart.”
“Behold the man whose heart sinketh not even at a whole host of troubles arrayed against him: the obstacles in his path have themselves met with an obstacle.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அடுக்கி வரினும்= இடைவிடாது மேன்மேல் வந்தனவாயினும்; அழிவிலான் உற்ற இடுக்கண் இடுக்கட்படும்= தன் உள்ளக் கோட்பாடு விடாதான் உற்ற இடுக்கண்தாம் இடுக்கணிலே பட்டுப்போம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that even if troubles come ceaselessly, one upon another, they cannot destroy a person who does not abandon the settled purpose within; the troubles themselves fall into trouble and wear out. Holding the purpose is not stubbornly remaining in one unsafe method. Changing the route, accepting help, resting, or leaving danger may preserve the purpose.