Knowing Strength
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uṭaittam valiyaṟiyā rūkkatti ṉūkki / yiṭaikkaṇ murintār palar.
“Ill-deeming of their proper powers, have many monarchs striven, / And midmost of unequal conflict fallen asunder riven.”
“Many there have been who in the sanguineness of their hearts overestimated their strength and adventured, but were cut off in the middle.”
Many, not knowing the measure of their own strength, have surged forward through excitement and broken down midway.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உடைத் தம் வலி அறியார்= கருத்தாவாதலை உடைய தம் வலியின் அளவு அறியாதே; ஊக்கத்தின் ஊக்கி= மன எழுச்சியால் தம்மின் வலியாரோடு வினை செய்தலைத் தொடங்கி; இடைக்கண் முரிந்தார் பலர்= அவர் அடர்த்தலான் அது செய்து முடிக்கப்பெறாது இடையே கெட்ட அரசர் உலகத்துப் பலர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Many in this world have begun reckless undertakings against stronger adversaries out of mere emotional impulse, without understanding their own true capacity, only to be crushed midway.