The Possession of Forbearance
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uṇṇādhu nōṟpār periyar piṟarsollum / iṉṉācchol nōṟpāriṉ piṉ
“Though 'great' we deem the men that fast and suffer pain, Who others' bitter words endure, the foremost place obtain.”
“Those that do penance by fasting are great: but they only come after those that forgive their calumniators.”
We call those who fast and endure hunger great. Greater still are those who endure other people's cruel words.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உண்ணாது நோற்பார் பெரியர் — விரதங்களான் ஊணைத் தவிர்ந்து உற்ற நோயைப் பொறுப்பார் எல்லாரினும் பெரியர்; பிறர் சொல்லும் இன்னாச் சொல் நோற்பாரின் பின் — அவர் பெரியராவது, தம்மைப் பிறர் சொல்லும் இன்னாத சொல்லைப் பொறுப்பாரின் பின்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who fast and endure the body's hunger are great — but they rank only after those who endure the cruel words others speak against them.