Tirukkural Chapter 77 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 77 - படை மாட்சி
CHAPTER 77 - IMPORTANCE OF AN ARMY
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77/04. அழிவின்றி அறைபோகா தாகி வழிவந்த
வன்க ணதுவே படை.

77/04. Azhivinrri arraipoghaa dhaaghi vazhivandha
Vangha nnadhuve padai.

77/04. Not defeated by enemies, not influenced by enemies cunningly,
and that, which is hereditary force, is the best army of a King.
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Akilesh: The King's army is not defeated or influenced by enemies.

Harshad: It is a hereditary force
Handed down from forefathers
An army that was well trained
And was never defeated.

King's enemies couldn't influence
That army by cunning methods,
So loyal to him was that army
They couldn't break its unity

That kind of fighting spirit,
An army had in the past,
Besides their faithful loyalty
To their King and country.
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77/05. கூற்றுடன்று மேல்வரினும் கூடி எதிர்நிற்கும்
ஆற்ற லதுவே படை.

77/05. Kootrrudanrru melvarinum koodi edhirnirrkkum
Aatrra ladhuve padai.

77/05. Even Lord Yama (Lord of death) comes for a fight,
that army will stand together and fight, out of love for their King.
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Akhilesh: That means even at the risk of their lives
They will fight the enemy and win.

Harshad: An army must be like that,
Taking all the risks, they must fight,
Then victory is sure on their side,
That'll boost their King's pride.

Death might come from all sides,
But never had they cared
For their lives or their ends,
As ‘do or die' spirit each one had.

Blood was flowing like a river.
But they cared for it never.
Amidst wounded and dead bodies,
They marched on with their swords.
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77/06. மறமானம் மாண்ட வழிச்செலவு தேற்றம்
எனநான்கே ஏமம் படைக்கு.

77/06. Maramaanam maanda vazhichselavu thetrram
Enanaange emam padaikku.

77/06. Heroism, honor, time tested methods by soldiers, and loyalty
all these four are essential requirements of a King's army.
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Akhilesh: A King's army must have
All the qualities suggested by the poet.

Harshad: Heroism, honor, loyalty,
Tested methods, these were the qualities
Of a King's army in those days
While marching on their ways.

It was, therefore, no wonder
If they had won the war
For all their best qualities
They had shown in their times.

The extraordinary talents
Of those loyal soldiers
Had had won them fame
As war heroes of that time.
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