Fortification
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āṟṟupavarkku maraṇporu ḷañcittaṟ / pōṟṟu pavarkkum poruḷ.
A fort is a strategic asset both to those who march out against an enemy and to those who, fearing attack, guard themselves within it.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A fort is wealth to those who act against their foes; / Is wealth to them who, fearing, guard themselves from woes.”
“Fortresses are helpful to the weak who are thinking only of their defence: but they are also no less helpful to the strong and powerful.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆற்றுபவர்க்கும் அரண் பொருள்= மூவகை ஆற்றலும் உடையராய்ப் பிறர்மேல் செல்வார்க்கும் அரண் சிறந்தது; அஞ்சித் தற் போற்றுபவர்க்கும் (அரண்) பொருள்= அவையின்றித் தம்மேல் வருவார்க்கு அஞ்சித் தன்னையே அடைவார்க்கும் அரண் சிறந்தது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a fort is an excellent asset for a ruler possessing the powers to march against others. It is likewise valuable to a ruler who, lacking those powers and fearing an approaching enemy, withdraws into the fort for self-protection.