Fortification
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maṇinīrumaṇṇu malaiyu maṇiniḻaṟ / kāṭu muṭaiya taraṇ.
A fort possesses gem-clear water, open ground, a mountain, and forest with beautiful cool shade.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A fort is that which owns fount of waters crystal clear, / An open space, a hill, and shade of beauteous forest near.”
“Watercourses, deserts, mountains, and thick jungles, all these constitute various kinds of defensive barriers.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பணிநீரும் மண்ணும் மலையும் அணிநிழல் காடும் உடையது அரண்= மணிபோலும் நிறத்தினை உடைய நீரும், வெள்ளிடை நிலமும், மலையும், குளிர்ந்த நிழலையுடைய காடும் உடையதே அரணாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a fort is a site possessing water clear and gem-like in colour, open exposed ground, a mountain, and forest that provides beautiful cool shade.