Kural #486
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Tamil text
ஊக்க முடையான் ஒடுக்கம்
பொருதகர் தாக்கற்குப் பேருந் தகைத்து
Ūkka muṭaiyāṉ oṭukkam
Porutakar tākkaṟkup pērun takaittu
English translation
The restraint of an energetic person is like a fighting ram stepping back to charge with greater force.
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Explanation
When a capable person holds back, it is not weakness but preparation. Like a ram that steps backward to gain momentum for a more powerful attack, temporary restraint precedes decisive action.
விளக்கம்
ஊக்கமுள்ளவர் பின்வாங்குவது பலவீனமல்ல. அது ஆட்டுக்கடா முட்ட முன்னே பின்னே போவது போல, பெரிய தாக்குதலுக்கு ஆயத்தமாவதே. சரியான நேரம் அறிந்து செயல்படலே வெற்றி தரும். இது காலமறிதல் அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.
Word meanings
- ஊக்கம்ūkkamenergy/enthusiasm
- உடையான்uṭaiyāṉone who possesses
- ஒடுக்கம்oṭukkamrestraint
- பொருதகர்porutakarfighting ram
- தாக்கற்குtākkaṟkufor attacking
- பேரும்pērumstepping back
- தகைத்துtakaittuis like
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two woodcutters, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his tireless energy, chopping wood with a furious pace. Bala, though equally strong, often paused, sharpening his axe or studying the forest. One day, the village elder announced a contest: the woodcutter with the most timber by sunset would win a prize. Arun, eager to win, began hacking away, his axe a blur. Bala, however, stepped back, observing the trees, the wind, and the light. He spent hours meticulously choosing each tree, felling them with precise, well-aimed strikes. As the sun began to dip, Arun was exhausted, his pile of wood uneven and scattered. Bala, though he had worked at a slower pace, had a smaller but far neater stack. When the judges measured the wood, Bala won the prize. Arun, panting, realized that sometimes, a moment of thoughtful pause could lead to greater success than endless, hasty effort.