Kural #471
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
வினைவலியும் தன்வலியும் மாற்றான் வலியும்
துணைவலியும் தூக்கிச் செயல்
Viṉaivaliyum taṉvaliyum māṟṟāṉ valiyum
Tuṇaivaliyum tūkkic ceyal
English translation
Before acting, weigh the strength of the task, your own strength, the strength of the opponent, and the strength of allies.
Listen
Explanation
This kural presents a comprehensive framework for strategic assessment. Four factors must be evaluated: 1) difficulty of the task, 2) one's own capabilities, 3) the adversary's power, and 4) support from allies. Only with this complete picture should action be taken.
விளக்கம்
ஒரு செயலைச் செய்வதற்கு முன், அந்த வேலையின் கடினம், நம் பலம், எதிரியின் பலம், நமக்கு உதவும் நண்பர்களின் பலம் ஆகியவற்றை ஆராய வேண்டும். "வலியறிதல்" அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம். எல்லாவற்றையும் எடைபோட்டுப் பார்த்தே செயல்பட வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- வினைவலிviṉaivalistrength of the task
- தன்வலிtaṉvalione's own strength
- மாற்றான்வலிmāṟṟāṉvaliopponent's strength
- துணைவலிtuṇaivaliallies' strength
- தூக்கிtūkkihaving weighed
- செயல்ceyalact
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a vast forest, lived a woodcutter named Arun. He eyed a giant oak, its trunk thick and its branches reaching the sky. Arun, confident in his axe, began to chop. Hours passed, sweat streamed, but the oak barely showed a scratch. Nearby, a clever merchant, Bala, observed Arun. Bala knew the forest well. He knew Arun's strength, the oak's hardness, and that a rival merchant, with more skilled woodcutters, also coveted the oak. Bala approached Arun. "Friend," he said, "that oak is too strong for one axe. Consider the task, your strength, the oak's resilience, and the rival's crew. Why not focus on the smaller trees, easier to fell, and sell the wood for a good profit?" Arun, humbled, looked at the untouched oak and then at the smaller trees. He followed Bala's advice, and soon, his cart was overflowing with wood, and his purse, with coins.