Noble Excellence
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cāṉṟavar cāṉṟāṇmai kuṉṟi ṉirunilantāṉ / tāṅkātu maṉṉō poṟai.
“The mighty earth its burthen to sustain must cease, / If perfect virtue of the perfect men decrease.”
“Verily even the earth itself will not be able to support the burden of human life if the worthy were to fall from their worth.”
If those of noble character diminish in virtue, even this vast earth could no longer bear its burden.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சான்றவர் சான்றாண்மை குன்றின்= பல குணங்களானும் நிறைந்தவர் தம் தன்மை குன்றுவராயின்; இரு நிலம் தான் பொறை தாங்காது மன்னோ= மற்றை இருநிலந்தானும் தன் பொறையைத் தாங்காதாய் முடியும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If those of perfect character were to diminish in their noble excellence, this vast earth itself would be unable to bear its heavy burden.