Tirukkural Chapter 50 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

-திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 50 - இடன் அறிதல்.
CHAPTER 50 - KNOWING THE PLACE.
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50/07. அஞ்சாமை அல்லால் துணைவேண்டா எஞ்சாமை
எண்ணி இடத்தாற் செயின்.

50/07. Anjaamai allaal thunnaivendaa enjaamai
Enni idhathaarr seiyin.

50/07. A King who plans the best way to win his enemy
And he executes it in the best way; he needs no guard other than his boldness.
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Deepa: A king who is bold will plan for a win.

Nandini: A King should be bold
And have a strong hold
On the army of his own
Then he can easily win.

His boldness is his guard.
His enemy is afraid
To attack his fort
For fear of defeat.

People are very happy
In his safe custody,
And praise him always
For his boldness.
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50/08 சிறுபடையான் செல்லிடம் சேரின் உறுபடையான்
ஊக்கம் அழிந்து விடும்.

50/08. Sirrupadaiyaan sellidam serin orupadaiyaan
Ookkam azhindhu vidum.

50/08. If a King with a big army goes to destroy a King with a small army,
His fame will get spoiled.
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Deepa: If a strong man fights with a weak man
The world will blame the strong man.

Nandini: True, the world is made like this.
A strong country attacks
A small country for ransom
And thus kills its freedom.

A strong King wants
To expand his lands
And he goes on always
Fighting with others.

He cares not for his fame,
Nor for losing his fame,
So much greed he has
He's fighting always wars.
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50/09. சிறைநலனும் சீரும் இலர்எனினும் மாந்தர்
உறைநிலத்தோடு ஒட்டல் அரிது.

50/09. Sirrainalanum seerum ilareninum maandhar
Urrainilaththodu ottal aridhu.

50/09. One may not have strong fort or nor having talent
But it is difficult to go and fight with them in their soil.
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Deepa: One cannot go and fight with enemy
In his own soil.

Nandini: Yes, a weak King outside his place
May be strong inside his palace,
As he has the strong support
Of his loyal subjects

His enemies can't penetrate
Into his domain as the support
From the people and army
Blocks the enemies' entry.

He may not have talent,
Yet he can also fight
To the extent of his might
With their moral support.
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50/10. கால்ஆழ் களரின் நரிஅடும் கண்ணஞ்சா
வேல்ஆள் முகத்த களிறு.

50/10. Kaalaazh kallarin nariadum kannanjaa
Velaall mugaththa kallirru.

50/10. An elephant that can kill enemies with its strong ivory teeth
When it's stuck up in mud, a fox can easily kill it.
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Deepa: Even for an elephant there is a slip
(யானைக்கும் அடி சறுக்கும்)

Nandini: An elephant by its weight
Can crush any object,
When in mud it's caught
A fox can easily kill it.

Till the King is free he can fight,
But when he's caught,
His enemies will kill him,
Though not strong like him.

Without being caught
The King must fight,
If he wants to defeat
His enemy on the spot.
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