Decision of Character
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
viṉaittiṭpa meṉpa toruvaṉ maṉattiṭpa / maṟṟaiya vellām piṟa.
What is called firmness in action is the firmness of the actor's mind; every other strength is secondary.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“What men call 'power in action' know for 'power of mind' / Externe to man all other aids you find.”
“Greatness of achievement is nought else but the greatness of the will that striveth therefor: all other things come not near the mark.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வினைத்திட்பம் என்பது ஒருவன் மனத் திட்பம்= வினைசெய்தற்கண் திண்மை என்று சொல்லப்படுவது, அதனை முடித்தற்குரியானொருவன் மனத்தினது திண்ணம்; மற்றைய எல்லாம் பிற= அஃது ஒழிந்தன எல்லாம் அதற்குத் திண்மையென்று சொல்லப்படா.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that firmness in completing an undertaking is the firmness of the mind of the one responsible for it. Resources, tools, and other aids are not themselves that firmness.