Noble Excellence
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kaṭaṉeṉpa nallavai yellāṅ kaṭaṉaṟintu / cāṉṟāṇmai mēṟkoḷ pavarkku.
For the person who discerns what is fitting and takes noble excellence upon themselves, all good things are owed — so those who know the texts say; and the commentator adds that they will simply be there, as that person's nature.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“All goodly things are duties to the men, they say / Who set themselves to walk in virtue's perfect way.”
“Behold the men that know their duties and want to cultivate worth in themselves: everything that is good will be a duty in their eyes.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கடன் அறிந்து சான்றாண்மை மேற்கொள்பவர்க்கு= நமக்குத் தகுவது இது என்று அறிந்து சான்றாண்மையை மேற்கொண்டு ஒழுகுவார்குக்; நல்லவை எல்லாம் கடன் என்ப= நல்லனவாய குணங்கள் எல்லாம் இயல்பாய் இருக்கும் என்று சொல்லுவர் நூலோர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
For the person who discerns what is fitting and takes noble excellence upon themselves, all good qualities simply come to be there as that person's nature, so those who know the texts say.