The Country
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uṟupaciyu mōvāp piṇiyuñ ceṟupakaiyuñ / cērā tiyalvatu nāṭu.
A country functions well when severe hunger, unceasing disease, and destructive external enmity do not take hold.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“That is a 'land' whose peaceful annals know, / Nor famine fierce, nor wasting plague, nor ravage of the foe.”
“That is the great country which is free from famines and plagues, and which is safe from the invasions of enemies.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உறு பசியும்= மிக்க பசியும்; ஓவாப் பிணியும்= நீங்காத நோயும்; செறு பகையும் சேராது= புறத்து நின்று வந்து அழிவுசெய்யும் பகையும் இன்றி; இயல்வது நாடு= இனிது நடப்பதே நாடாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a country proceeds well without severe hunger, disease that does not abate, or an external enemy that comes to cause destruction.