Decision of Character
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eṉaittiṭpa meytiyak kaṇṇum viṉaittiṭpam / vēṇṭārai vēṇṭā tulaku.
Even when someone possesses every other strength, the discerning do not esteem for high responsibility one who rejects firmness in action.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The world desires not men of every power possessed, / Who power in act desire not,- crown of all the rest.”
“Behold the men that have not the ambition to do great deeds: the world will not care for them whatever their other virtues may be.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வினைத்திட்பம் வேண்டாரை= வினைத்திட்பத்தை இது நமக்குச் சிறந்தது என்று கொள்ளாத அமைச்சரை; எனைத் திட்பம் எய்தியக் கண்ணும்= ஒழிந்த திட்பங்கள் எல்லாம் உடையராய இடத்தும்; வேண்டாது உலகு= நன்கு மதியார் உயர்ந்தோர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that even if a minister possesses every other strength, discerning people do not hold that minister in high regard when action-firmness is not accepted as an excellent and necessary quality.