Appraisal Of An Enemy's Power (By St. Thiruvalluvar) Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

871. Don’t harbor the ill-natured hatred
even for a joke.
872. Feel envy on warriors who plough with bows in wars.
But don’t envy the wise who plough with words.
873. He who singly incurs the envy of many
is more ignorant than the insane.
874. The world thrives on the merits of the good-natured
who turn their foes into friends.
875. He who has no ally but faces two foes
must make one of them a thick friend.
876. Whether you know your foe or not, in time of distress,
don’t go too near or too far from him.
877. Don’t tell your misery to the friend who ignores you.
And don’t let your foes know your infirmities.
878. Be tactical. Strengthen and protect yourself.
Then the pride of the foe falls away.
879. Wipe out the thorns when they are tender.
If they mature, hurt the hand that cuts.
880. If you fail to quell the pride of your enemy,
You can’t withstand even his breath later.