Tirukkural Chapter 68 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 68 - வினை செயல்வகை.
CHAPTER 68 - METHOD OF ACTIONS.
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68/07. செய்வினை செய்வான் செயல்முறை அவ்வினை
உள்ளறிவான் உள்ளம் கொளல்.

68/07. Seivinai seivaan seyalmuirrai avvinai
Ullarivaan ullam kollal.

68/07. A man doing the work must know its method,
Otherwise, he must consult an expert, before doing it.
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Anandamayi: One must know the method of action
Or consult a competent person before taking up the work.

Devika: It is better, one consults
An expert on the methods
Of doing the various works
Even if something he knows.

A consultant must be one,
A well experienced person,
Who can give a master plan
For that person to take action.

Special care must be taken
Before taking any action
To study the master plan
And start the work then.
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68/08. வினையான் வினையாக்கிக் கோடல் நனைகவுள்
யானையால் யானையாத் தற்று.

68/08. Vinaiyaan vinayaakkik kodal nanaikvull
Yaanaiyaal yaanaiyaath thatrru.

68/08. When the work is started, see the method of doing other works also, that will be like one wild elephant controls another mad elephant.
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Anandamayi: If simultaneously all the works
Are examined it will be saving time and energy.

Devika: If there are several works,
Then a master plan for the methods
Of actions in each case to be taken
Must be examined by a person.

If all the works are done,
According to this master plan,
That gives the methods of action,
It'll end in sure completion.

The poet who has foreseen
Had in his own way given
All the essential methods
For all the works-in-progress.
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68/09. நட்டார்க்கு நல்ல செயலின் விரைந்ததே
ஒட்டாரை ஒட்டிக் கொளல்.

68/09. Nattaarkku nalla seyalin viraindhadhe
Ottaarai ottik kollal.

68/09. It is better to secure quickly the alliance of one's enemies
Rather than doing well to his friend.
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Anandamayi: Better A King makes enemies as friends to strengthen his side.

Devika "A known enemy is better than
An unknown angel, " a proverb mentions
In a different way, when the poet prefers
Enemies' alliance than helping friends.

By helping friends nothing comes out.
By getting enemies alliance one can treat
That alliance as close companions,
Besides their active co-operation.

The more enemies one has,
The more attacks he faces,
But when enemies are friends
Then he has fewer problems.
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68/10. உறைசிறியார் உள்நடுங்கல் அஞ்சிக் குறைபெறின்
கொள்வர் பெரியார்ப் பணிந்து.

68/10. Urraisiriyaar ullnadungal anjik kuraiperrin
Kollvar periyaarp pannindhu.

68/10. When a strong King attacks a weak King,
Whose subjects and armies may fear,
The weak king with no fight accepts
The terms of the strong King.
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Anandamayi: "Diplomacy is better part of the valor"
To avoid massive death of his people and soldiers
A weak King accepts the terms of a Strong King
When he comes for fighting.

Devika: A king may be weak in wars,
But he has a kind heart that speaks,
To avoid too many deaths
In case their fighting starts.

Anyhow he's going to lose.
"Why then many deaths, " he thinks.
To spare their precious lives,
He accepts the enemies' terms.

This kind of soft feelings,
Rarely a weak King has.
But now weak or strong countries,
The arms dealers there want wars.
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