The Councillor of State
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muṟaippaṭac cūḻntu muṭivilavē ceyvar / tiṟappā ṭilāa tavar.
Those who lack the practical capacity to finish leave work incomplete even after planning it properly and in order.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“For gain of end desired just counsel nought avails / To minister, when tact in execution fails.”
“The irresolute may even plan perfectly: but they will waver in the course of the execution and will never accomplish their designs.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
முறைப் படச் சூழ்ந்தும் முடிவு இலவே செய்வர்= செய்யப்படும் வினைகளை முன் அடைவுபட எண்ணி வைத்தும், செய்யுங்கால் அவை முடிவு இலவாகவே செய்யாநிற்பர்; திறப்பாடு இலாதவர்= முடித்தற்கு ஏற்ற கூறுபாடு இல்லாதார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that some people consider and arrange the required actions properly beforehand, yet when they execute them the actions remain unfinished because they lack the fitness suited to completing them. The defect lies not in deliberation but in practical capacity for completion.