Manly Exertion
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poṟiyiṉmai yārkkum paḻiyaṉ ṟaṟivaṟin / tāḷviṉai yiṉmai paḻi.
“'Tis no reproach unpropitious fate should ban; / But not to do man's work is foul disgrace to man!”
“It is no shame if fortune faileth a man but it is a disgrace if he abstain deliberately from exertion.”
Lack of favourable endowment or fortune is blame to no one. The blame lies in knowing the action required and making no effort when it is genuinely possible.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொறி இன்மை யார்க்கும் யார்க்கும் பழிஅன்று= பயனைத் தருவதாய விதியில்லாமை ஒருவற்கும் பழியாகாது; அறிவு அறிந்து ஆள்வினை இன்மை பழி= அறிய வேண்டும் அவற்றை வினைசெய்யாமையே பழியாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The lack of favorable destiny or natural luck is no disgrace to anyone; but failing to apply strenuous effort after knowing what duty requires—that is true disgrace.