Austerity
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tavamun tavamuṭaiyārk kāku mavamataṉai / yaḵtilār mēṟkoḷ vatu
“To 'penitents' sincere avails their 'penitence'; / Where that is not, 'tis but a vain pretence.”
“Austerities are for the austere of heart: it is profitless for others to take them up.”
Austerity itself succeeds only for those already formed by austerity; for those without that preparation, taking it up is futile.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
(இதன்பொருள்) தவமும் தவம் உடையார்க்கு ஆகும்= பயனே அன்றித் தவந்தானும் உண்டாவது முன்தவம் உடையார்க்கே; அதனை அஃது இலார் மேற்கொள்வது அவம்= ஆகலான் அத்தவத்தை அம்முன்தவம் இல்லாதார் முயல்வது பயன் இல் முயற்சியாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Austerity yields its profound fruits only to those whose minds are spiritually disciplined and prepared; for those lacking inner maturity to take up severe practices is an exercise in futility.