The Excellence of an Army
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uṟuppamain tūṟañcā velpaṭai vēntaṉ / veṟukkaiyu ḷellān talai.
“A conquering host, complete in all its limbs, that fears no wound, / Mid treasures of the king is chiefest found.”
“A well-organised and puissant army that feareth not danger is the first among the possessions of the prince.”
An army complete in its four ancient arms, unshaken by the prospect of battlefield injury, and capable of victory is foremost among a ruler's possessions.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உறுப்பு அமைந்து ஊறு அஞ்சா வெல் படை= யானை முதலிய நான்கு உறுப்பானும் நிறைந்து போரின்கண் ஊறுபடுதற்கு அஞ்சாது நின்று பகையை வெல்வதாய படை; வேந்தன் வெறுக்கையுள் எல்லாம் தலை= அரசன் செல்வங்கள் எல்லாவற்றுள்ளும் தலையாய செல்வம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
An army fully equipped with essential divisions and brave enough to face wounds without fear to secure victory is the foremost treasure among all a ruler's possessions.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review