Knowing The Place (By St. Thiruvalluvar) Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

491.A king should locate a place to besiege the foe
and despise him not before commencing the operation.
492.Even the most powerful kings gain all benefits
if they are within a protected strong fort.
493.Even the weak, guarded kings win like strong ones
choosing a place for strong defence and planned offence.
494.When a king finds an apt, guarded place to assault the foe
He who hoped to win will lose his heart to fight.
495.In deep waters, the crocodile beats other animals.
But other animals will conquer if it leaves the waters.
496.The strong wheeled lofty chariots sail not in sea.
And the ships sailing in the sea cannot run on land.
497.If a king thinks and begins an operation from a fit place
No other aid he needs than fearlessness.
498.If a king of a big army reaches the citadel of a chieftain
He will lose his glory.
499.It is hard to beat a king in his own place
even if he has no strong fort and valiant fighters.
500.A fox kills a mahout-defying elephant with tusks strung
bodies of lancet fighters, if it put its feet in the fen.