The Greatness of Ascetics
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thuṟandhār perumai thuṇaikkūṟiṉ vaiyattu / iṟandhārai eṇṇikkoṇ ḍaṟṟu
“As counting those that from the earth have passed away, 'Tis vain attempt the might of holy men to say.”
“Thou canst not measure the greatness of ascetics: thou canst as well count the number of the dead.”
Measuring the greatness of those who have renounced attachment is like trying to count everyone who has ever died on earth.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
துறந்தார் பெருமை துணைக் கூறின் = இருவகைப் பற்றினையும் விட்டாரது பெருமையை இவ்வளவு என்று கூறி அறியலுறின், அளவுபடாமையான்; வையத்து இறந்தாரை எண்ணிக்கொண்டு அற்று = இவ்வுலகத்துப் பிறந்து இறந்தாரை எண்ணி இத்துணையர் என அறியலுற்றாற் போலும். (முடியாது என்பதாம்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Attempting to measure the boundless greatness of those who have conquered all inner attachments is as impossible as trying to count all the people who have ever lived and died on this earth.