Kural #493
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Tamil text
ஆற்றாரும் ஆற்றி அடுப
இடனறிந்து போற்றார்கண் போற்றிச் செயின்
Āṟṟārum āṟṟi aṭupa
Iṭaṉaṟintu pōṟṟārkaṇ pōṟṟic ceyiṉ
English translation
Even the weak can defeat the strong if they understand terrain and act carefully against the unguarded.
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Explanation
Superior position compensates for inferior strength. Knowing the ground and exploiting enemy weaknesses allows the weaker party to overcome greater force. Strategy defeats raw power.
விளக்கம்
இக்குறள் இடனறிதல் அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளது. பலமில்லாதவரும், தக்க இடத்தை அறிந்து, எதிரியின் பலவீனத்தை உணர்ந்து செயல்பட்டால், பலம் வாய்ந்தவரையும் வெல்லலாம். இடம் அறிந்து செயல்பட்டால் வெற்றி நிச்சயம். இதுவே இக்குறளின் நீதி.
Word meanings
- ஆற்றாரும்āṟṟārumeven the weak
- ஆற்றிāṟṟibecoming capable
- அடுபaṭupawill defeat
- இடன்iṭaṉplace
- அறிந்துaṟintuknowing
- போற்றார்கண்pōṟṟārkaṇagainst the unguarded
- போற்றிpōṟṟicarefully
- செயின்ceyiṉif they act
Story behind this kural
The old shepherd, Elara, watched the fearsome wolf pack circle her village. They were larger, stronger, and more numerous than her sheepdogs. Fear gripped the villagers. One day, a young boy, Kael, noticed the wolves always took the same path down the steep ravine to reach the sheepfold. Kael devised a plan. With the villagers' help, he secretly rolled heavy boulders to the ravine's edge. He waited. Soon, the wolves descended, their eyes fixed on their prey. As they reached the narrowest point, Kael gave the signal. The boulders thundered down, blocking the wolves’ path and crushing several. The remaining wolves, trapped and confused, scattered. The villagers, though fewer in number and less powerful than the wolves, were victorious. They had turned the wolves' strength against them.