Austerity
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uṟṟanōy nōṉṟa luyirkkuṟukaṇ ceyyāmai / yaṟṟē tavattiṟ kuru
“To bear due penitential pains, while no offence / He causes others, is the type of 'penitence'.”
“Patient endurance of suffering and non-injuring of life, in these is contained the whole of tapas.”
Bearing the hardship that comes through one's own discipline, while causing no distress to other life—these together form austerity.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
(இதன்பொருள்) தவத்திற்கு உரு= தவத்தின் வடிவு: உற்றநோய் நோன்றல்= உண்டி சுருக்கல் முதலியவற்றால் தம் உயிர்க்கு வரும் துன்பங்களைப் பொறுத்தலும்; உயிர்க்கு உறுகண் செய்யாமை= தாம் பிற உயிர்கட்குத் துன்பம் செய்யாமையும்; அற்றே= ஆகிய அவ்வளவிற்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Patiently enduring the bodily hardships that arise from disciplined restraint while refusing to cause distress or harm to any living being—these two virtues together constitute the true essence of austerity.