Noble Excellence
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cālpiṟkuk kaṭṭaḷai yāteṉiṟ ṟōlvi / tulaiyallār kaṇṇuṅ koḷal.
“What is perfection's test? The equal mind. / To bear repulse from even meaner men resigned.”
“What is the touchstone of worth? It is the acknowledgement of superiority when it is found even in men who are otherwise one’s inferiors.”
The touchstone of noble character is graciously accepting defeat even before inferiors.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சால்பிற்குக் கட்டளை யாது எனின்= சால்பாகிய பொன்னின் அளவு அறிதற்கு உரைகல்லாகிய செயல் யாது எனின்; தோல்வி துலை அல்லார்கண்ணும் கொளல்= அது தம்மின் உயர்ந்தார்மாட்டுக் கொள்ளும் தோல்வியை இழிந்தார்மாட்டும் கோடல்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
What is the true touchstone of noble character? It is the magnanimity of gracefully conceding defeat even before those who are beneath you in stature.