Fortification
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koḷaṟkaritāyk koṇṭakūḻt tāki yakattār / nilaikkeḷitā nīra taraṇ.
A fort is difficult for outsiders to capture, contains ample food provisions, and makes it practicable for those within to maintain their defensive positions.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Impregnable, containing ample stores of food, / A fort for those within, must be a warlike station good.”
“Impregnability, facility of defence for the garrison, and abundance of provisions inside, these are the essential requisites of the fortress.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கொளற்கு அரிதாய்= புறத்தாரான் கோடற்கு அரிதாய்; கொண்ட கூழ்த்து ஆகி= உட்கொண்ட பலவகை உணவிற்றாய்; அகத்தார் நிலைக்கு எளிதாம் நீரது அரண்= அகத்தாரது போர்நிலைக்கு எளிதாய நீர்மையை உடையதே அரணாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a fort is hard for outsiders to capture, contains varied food within, and is of such a nature that its garrison can readily maintain its battle positions.