The Possession of Self-control
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nilaiyiṉ tiriyātu aṭaṅkiyāṉ tōṟṟam / malaiyiṉum māṇap peritu
One who never swerves from his place and holds himself in stands taller than a mountain.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“In his station, all unswerving, if man self subdue, / Greater he than mountain proudly rising to the view.”
“Behold the man who hath triumphed over his passions and who swerveth not from duty: his form is more imposing than a mountain.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நிலையின் திரியாது அடங்கியான் தோற்றம் = இல்வாழ்க்கையாகிய தன் நெறியின் வேறுபடாது நின்று அடங்கியவனது உயர்ச்சி; மலையினும் மாணப் பெரிது = மலையின் உயர்ச்சியினும் மிகப் பெரிது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
One who stands firm in his proper place without swerving, holding his senses in, rises to a height greater even than a mountain. Steady self-mastery is the truest kind of greatness.