Noble Excellence
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āṟṟuvā rāṟṟal paṇita latucāṉṟōr / māṟṟārai māṟṟum paṭai.
The strength of those who get things done is the bending low; and that same bending is the weapon by which the worthy turn hostility out of their opponents — the commentary specifying that the bending is done in order to gather those who will help.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Submission is the might of men of mighty acts; the sage / With that same weapon stills his foeman's rage.”
“It is humility that is the strength of the strong: and that is also the armour of the man of worth against his foes.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆற்றுவார் ஆற்றல் பணிதல்= ஒரு கருமத்தைச் செய்து முடிப்பாரது ஆற்றலாவது அதற்குத் துணையாவாரைத் தாழ்ந்து கூட்டிக்கொள்ளுதல்; சான்றோர் மாற்றாரை மாற்றும் படை அது= இனிச் சால்புடையார் தம் பகைவரைப் பகைமை ஒழிக்கும் கருவியும் அது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The strength of those who get things done is the bending low; and that same bending is the weapon by which the worthy turn hostility out of their opponents.