The Excellence of an Army
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uṟuppamain tūṟañcā velpaṭai vēntaṉ / veṟukkaiyu ḷellān talai.
An army complete in its four ancient arms, unshaken by the prospect of battlefield injury, and capable of victory is foremost among a ruler's possessions.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A conquering host, complete in all its limbs, that fears no wound, / Mid treasures of the king is chiefest found.”
“A well-organised and puissant army that feareth not danger is the first among the possessions of the prince.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உறுப்பு அமைந்து ஊறு அஞ்சா வெல் படை= யானை முதலிய நான்கு உறுப்பானும் நிறைந்து போரின்கண் ஊறுபடுதற்கு அஞ்சாது நின்று பகையை வெல்வதாய படை; வேந்தன் வெறுக்கையுள் எல்லாம் தலை= அரசன் செல்வங்கள் எல்லாவற்றுள்ளும் தலையாய செல்வம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar identifies the four constituent arms as elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry. When such a complete army stands without shrinking from battlefield injury and prevails, it ranks first among the ruler's possessions.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review