Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
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aṭukki variṉu maḻivilā ṉuṟṟa / viṭukka ṇiṭukkaṭ paṭum.
“When griefs press on, but fail to crush the patient heart, / Then griefs defeated, put to grief, depart.”
“Behold the man whose heart sinketh not even at a whole host of troubles arrayed against him: the obstacles in his path have themselves met with an obstacle.”
Even when adversities arrive one upon another, they themselves are worn down against a person whose inner purpose does not disintegrate.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அடுக்கி வரினும்= இடைவிடாது மேன்மேல் வந்தனவாயினும்; அழிவிலான் உற்ற இடுக்கண் இடுக்கட்படும்= தன் உள்ளக் கோட்பாடு விடாதான் உற்ற இடுக்கண்தாம் இடுக்கணிலே பட்டுப்போம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even if troubles descend in relentless waves one after another, the distress that meets a steadfast, unbroken spirit will itself suffer defeat and perish.