The Excellence of an Army
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ciṟumaiyuñ cellāt tuṉiyum vaṟumaiyu / millāyiṉ vellum paṭai.
An army will prevail if it is free from three distinct deficits: shrinkage in numbers, persistent inward resentment, and poverty of supplies.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Where weakness, clinging fear and poverty / Are not, the host will gain the victory.”
“The army will always win provided that it is not inferior in numbers, hath no implacable jealousies, and is not left to starve without pay.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சிறுமையும் செல்லாத் துனியும் வறுமையும் இல்லாயின்= தான் தேய்ந்து சிறிதாகலும், மனத்தினின்று நீங்காத வெறுப்பும், நல்குரவும் தனக்கு இல்லையாயின்; படை வெல்லும்= படை பகையை வெல்லும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says an army wins when it lacks three deficits: depletion in size, resentment that does not leave the mind, and material deprivation. These are separate conditions; individual soldiers are not to blame for systemic neglect or distress.