Military Spirit
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viḻittakaṇ vēlkoṇ ṭeṟiya vaḻittimaippi / ṉoṭṭaṉṟō vaṉka ṇavarkku.
“To hero fearless must it not defeat appear, / If he but wink his eye when foemen hurls his spear.”
“Is it not a shame to the hero if his eye doth so much as wink when the lance is hurled at him?”
For the fierce warrior, if the angry eye breaks its gaze and blinks when the enemy throws a spear, is that not itself retreat?
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
விழித்தகண்= பகைவரை வெகுண்டு நோக்கிய கண்; வேல் கொண்டு எறிய அழித்து இமைப்பின்= அவர் வேலைக்கொண்டு எறிய அஃது ஆற்றாது அந்நோக்கை அழித்து இமைக்குமாயின்; வன்கணவர்க்கு ஓட்டு அன்றோ= அது வீரர்க்குப் புறங்கொடுத்தலாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If eyes staring fiercely at a foe should flinch or blink when a spear is hurled at them, resolute heroes count even that momentary tremor as disgraceful retreat.