Austerity
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tuṟantārkkut tuppuravu vēṇṭi maṟantārkoṉ / maṟṟai yavarka ṭavam
“Have other men forgotten 'penitence' who strive / To earn for penitents the things by which they live?”
“Is it because there should be some people to tend and feed ascetics that all the rest have forgotten tapas?”
Have householders perhaps forgotten their own austerity because they are intent on supplying renunciants with what sustains them?
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
(இதன்பொருள்) மற்றையவர்கள்= இல்லறத்தையே பற்றி நிற்பார்; துறந்தார்க்குத் துப்புரவு வேண்டி= துறந்தார்க்கு உண்டியும் மருந்தும் உறையுளும் உதவலை விரும்பி; தவம் மறந்தார்கொல்= தாந்தாம் செய்யும் தானத்தின்மேல் விருப்பம் மிகுதியான் 'மறந்தார் பொலும்'.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Have householders perhaps forgotten their own practice of spiritual austerity because they are so wholly dedicated to providing sustenance and shelter to the ascetics?