The Country
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poṟaiyoruṅku mēlvaruṅkāṟ ṟāṅki yiṟaivaṟ / kiṟaiyoruṅku nērvatu nāṭu.
A country bears the burdens that converge upon it from other lands and still renders the whole tribute due to its ruler.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“When burthens press, it bears; Yet, With unfailing hand / To king due tribute pays: that is the 'land'”
“Behold the great nation: even if burdens upon burdens press down upon it, it will support them bravely and pay its taxes in full withal.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொறை ஒருங்கு மேல்வருங்கால் தாங்கி= பிற நாடுகள் பொறுத்த பாரம் எல்லாம் ஒருங்கே தன்கண் வருங்கால் அவற்றைத் தாங்கி; இறைவற்கு இறை ஒருங்கு நேர்வது நாடு= அதன்மேல் தன் அரசனுக்கு, இறைப்பொருள் முழுதையும் உடம்பட்டுக் கொடுப்பதே நாடாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that a country bears all the burdens previously carried by other lands when they come upon it together, and then agrees to render the full tribute due to its ruler.