Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
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iṉpattu ḷiṉpam viḻaiyātāṉ ṟuṉpattuṭ / ṭuṉpa muṟuta lilaṉ.
One who enjoys pleasure without inwardly handing the heart over to it does not, amid suffering, become inwardly possessed by suffering.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Mid joys he yields not heart to joys' control. / Mid sorrows, sorrow cannot touch his soul.”
“The man who runneth not after pleasure in the day of success suffereth not pain in the day of failure.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இன்பத்துள் இன்பம் விழையாதான்= வினையால் தனக்கின்பம் வந்துழி அதனை அனுபவியாநின்றே மனத்தான் விரும்பாதான்; துன்பத்துள் துன்பம் உறுதல் இலன்= துன்பம் வந்துழியும், அதனை அனுபவியாநின்றே மனத்தான் வருந்தான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that one who experiences pleasure when it comes from action but does not inwardly crave and cling to it will likewise experience pain without becoming inwardly broken by it. This is neither refusal of joy nor emotional numbness in suffering. Both are felt; neither is allowed to become the heart's complete ruler.