Decision of Character
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ūṟorā luṟṟapi ṉolkāmai yivviraṇṭi / ṉāṟeṉpa vāyntavar kōḷ.
“'Each hindrance shun', 'unyielding onward press, If obstacle be there,' / These two define your way, so those that search out truth declare.”
“To avoid all action that is bound to fail and not to turn away from one’s purpose because of obstacles: these two are said to be the guiding principles of the wise.”
The discerning hold to a twofold path: avoid unsound undertakings, and, if a sound undertaking later meets an obstacle, do not lose heart.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆய்ந்தவர் கோள்= முன் நீதி ஆராய்ந்த அமைச்சரது துணிபு; ஊறு ஒரால் உற்றபின் ஒல்காமை இவ்விரண்டின் ஆறு என்பர்= பழுதுபடும் வினைகளைச் செய்யாமையும், செய்யும் வினை தெய்வத்தான் பழுதுபட்டவழி அதற்குத் தளராமையுமாகிய இவ்விரண்டின் வழியென்பர் நூலோர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Avoiding disastrous missteps and refusing to falter when hardship arrives—the wise declare that the path of resolute action consists in these two principles.