Noble Excellence
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āṟṟuvā rāṟṟal paṇita latucāṉṟōr / māṟṟārai māṟṟum paṭai.
“Submission is the might of men of mighty acts; the sage / With that same weapon stills his foeman's rage.”
“It is humility that is the strength of the strong: and that is also the armour of the man of worth against his foes.”
The strength of the capable is humility; and that is the weapon with which the noble disarm foes.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆற்றுவார் ஆற்றல் பணிதல்= ஒரு கருமத்தைச் செய்து முடிப்பாரது ஆற்றலாவது அதற்குத் துணையாவாரைத் தாழ்ந்து கூட்டிக்கொள்ளுதல்; சான்றோர் மாற்றாரை மாற்றும் படை அது= இனிச் சால்புடையார் தம் பகைவரைப் பகைமை ஒழிக்கும் கருவியும் அது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The true strength of capable leaders is their gracious humility; and that very humility is the weapon with which the noble conquer and disarm their adversaries.