Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
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iṉpam viḻaiyā ṉiṭumpai yiyalpeṉpāṉ / ṟuṉpa muṟuta lilaṉ.
“He seeks not joy, to sorrow man is born, he knows; / Such man will walk unharmed by touch of human woes.”
“Behold the man who loveth not pleasure and who knoweth that difficulties are a part of the law of things: he smarteth not ever under any check.”
One who does not demand uninterrupted pleasure and understands effort's ordinary hardship as part of undertaking the work is not inwardly overthrown when that hardship arrives.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இன்பம் விழையான் இடும்பை இயல்பு என்பான்= தன் உடம்பிற்கு இன்பமாயவற்றை விரும்பாதே வினையால் இடும்பை எய்துதல் இயல்பு என்று தெளிந்திருப்பான்; துன்பம் உறுதல் இலன்= தன் முயற்சியான் துன்பம் உறான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Whoever does not crave perpetual ease and recognizes that hardship is natural in undertaking earnest tasks will never suffer mental anguish when difficulties arrive.