The Possession of Forbearance
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oṟuttārai oṉṟāka vaiyārē vaippar / poṟuttāraip poṉpōṟ potindhu
“Who wreak their wrath as worthless are despised; Who patiently forbear as gold are prized.”
“The wise respect not the men who retaliate an injury: but they are prized as gold who forgive their enemy.”
The one who strikes back is counted as nothing. The one who bore the wrong is kept like gold — wrapped, tucked away, held close.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒறுத்தாரை ஒன்றாக வையார் — பிறன் தமக்குத் தீங்கு செய்தவழிப் பொறாது அவனை ஒறுத்தாரை அறிவுடையார் ஒருபொருளாக மனத்துக் கொள்ளார்; பொறுத்தாரைப் பொன்போல் பொதிந்து வைப்பர் — அதனைப் பொறுத்தாரைப் பொன்போற் பொதிந்து கொள்வர். (உரைவிளக்கம்: ஒறுத்தவர் தாமும் அத்தீங்கு செய்தவனோடு ஒத்தலின், 'ஒன்றாக வையார்' என்றார். பொதிந்து வைத்தல், சால்புடைமைபற்றி இடைவிடாது நினைத்தல்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains: when someone harms you and you strike back to punish them, the wise do not count you as worth even a thought — for in retaliating you have made yourself like the wrongdoer. But the one who instead endures the harm, the wise treasure like gold, keeping that person's nobility constantly in mind. His phrase 'wrapped like gold' is his image for cherishing someone ceaselessly.