The Excellence of an Army
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nilaimakkaḷ cāla vuṭaitteṉiṉun tāṉai / talaimakka ḷilvaḻi yil.
Even if steady soldiers are abundant, there is no functioning army when capable commanders are absent.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though men abound, all ready for the war, / No army is where no fit leaders are.”
“Even if there is no lack of troops of the line, there is no army when there are no chiefs to lead.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நிலைமக்கள் சால உடைத்து எனினும்= போரின்கண் நிலையுடைய வீரரை மிக உடைத்தேயாயினும்; தலைமக்கள் இல் வழித் தானை இல்= தனக்குத் தலைவராகிய வீரர் இல்லாதவழித் தானை நில்லாது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that even an army with very many steady soldiers cannot stand when it lacks warrior-commanders to lead it. The claim requires capable leadership, not unconditional obedience or unaccountable authority.