Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
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iṉṉāmai yiṉpa meṉakkoḷi ṉākuntaṉ / ṉoṉṉār viḻaiyuñ ciṟappu.
“Who pain as pleasure takes, he shall acquire / The bliss to which his foes in vain aspire.”
“Behold the man who looketh upon the stress and strain of exertion as a veritable joy: he will be extolled by his very enemies.”
When one receives the necessary hardship of worthy effort as part of its joy, a distinction arises that even rivals are moved to respect.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இன்னாமை இன்பம் எனக்கொளின்= ஒருவன் வினைசெய்யும் இடத்து முயற்சியான் வரும் துன்பம்தன்னையே தனக்கு இன்பமாகக் கற்பித்துக் கொள்வானாயின்; தன் ஒன்னார் விழையும் சிறப்பு ஆகும்= அதனான் தன் பகைவர் நன்கு மதித்தற்கு ஏதுவாய கவர்ச்சி உண்டாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Whoever embraces the demanding toil of a worthy enterprise as the very joy of accomplishment will attain an excellence revered even by their adversaries.