Fortification
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muṉaimukattu māṟṟalar cāya viṉaimukattu / vīṟeyti māṇṭa taraṇ.
An excellent fort gives its defenders mastery in action at the battlefront, so that the opposing force is overcome as the engagement begins.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“At outset of the strife a fort should foes dismay; / And greatness gain by deeds in every glorious day.”
“That is the veritable fortress which hath been rendered impregnable by works of various kinds, and which enableth the defenders to fell down their adversaries even at the outermost enceintes.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
முனை முகத்து மாற்றலர் சாய வினைமுகத்து வீறு எய்தி= போர் தொடங்கின அளவிலே, பகைவர் கெடும் வண்ணம் அகத்தோர் செய்யும் வினைவேறுபாடுகளான் வீறுபெற்று; மாண்டது அரண்= மற்றும் வேண்டும் மாட்சியையுடையதே அரணாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a fort is excellent when, as battle begins, the varied skilful actions of those within give them superiority and cause the enemy at the front to fail, while the fort also possesses its other required qualities.