Decision of Character
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tuṉpa muṟavariṉuñ ceyka tuṇivāṟṟi / yiṉpam payakkum viṉai.
Even if hardship comes through the effort, carry on with resolve the action that will yield good at its end.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though toil and trouble face thee, firm resolve hold fast, / And do the deeds that pleasure yield at last.”
“Take up the doing of works that increase happiness: and even if thou have to suffer cruel mortification in the doing of them, steel thy heart and persevere to the end.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
துன்பம் உற வரினும்= முதற்கண் மெய்ம் முயற்சியான் தமக்குத் துன்பம் மிகவருமாயினும்; இன்பம் பயக்கும் வினை துணிவு ஆற்றிச் செய்க= அது நோக்கித் தளராது, முடிவின்கண் இன்பம் பயக்கும் வினையைத் திட்பமுடையராய்ச் செய்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that even when genuine effort brings much hardship at first, one should not weaken on account of it but firmly perform the action that yields well-being at the end.