Abstaining from Anger
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iṇareri tōyvaṉṉa viṉṉā ceyiṉum / puṇariṉ vekuḷāmai naṉṟu
“Though men should work thee woe, like touch of tongues of fire. / 'Tis well if thou canst save thy soul from burning ire.”
“Even when thy wrongs burn as the flaming of many fires, it is good if thou canst abstain from anger.”
Even after someone causes suffering like contact with many flames, it is good—if one can—to remain free of anger toward that person.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இணர் எரி தோய்வு அன்ன இன்னா செயினும்= பலசுடரை உடைத்தாய பேரெரிவந்து தோய்ந்தால் ஒத்த இன்னாதவற்றை ஒருவன் செய்தான் ஆயினும்; வெகுளாமை புணரின் நன்று= அவனை வெகுளாமை ஒருவற்குக் கூடுமாயின் அது நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even when someone inflicts agony as fierce as the touch of blazing flames, it is supreme wisdom if one can restrain oneself from returning anger.