Military Spirit
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cuḻalu micaivēṇṭi vēṇṭā vuyirār / kaḻalyāppuk kārikai nīrttu.
“Who seek for world-wide fame, regardless of their life, / The glorious clasp adorns, sign of heroic strife.”
“Behold the men that care not for their lives but yearn for the fame that encompasseth the earth about: the anklet that they wear round their foot is a very feast to the eye.”
For warriors who seek fame that circles the world and do not desire life, fastening the heroic anklet possesses fitting beauty.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சுழலும் இசை வேண்டி வேண்டா உயிரார்= துறக்கத்துத் தம்மொடு செல்லாது, வையத்தைச் சூழ்ந்து நிற்கும் புகழைவேண்டி உயிர் வாழ்தலை வேண்டாத வீரர்; கழல் யாப்புக் காரிகை நீர்த்து= கழல் கட்டுதல் அலங்கார நீர்மையை உடைத்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
For heroes who cherish world-enduring renown over mere biological survival, fastening the warrior anklet is the crowning adornment of their valor.