Kural #494
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Tamil text
எண்ணியார் எண்ணம் இழப்பர்
இடனறிந்து துன்னியார் துன்னிச் செயின்
Eṇṇiyār eṇṇam iḻappar
Iṭaṉaṟintu tuṉṉiyār tuṉṉic ceyiṉ
English translation
Those who plotted against you will lose their plans if you know your ground and act from a strong position.
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Explanation
Defensive positioning defeats enemy schemes. When you occupy favorable ground and act from strength, even well-conceived plots against you will fail. Security comes from strategic positioning.
விளக்கம்
இக்குறள் இடனறிதல் அதிகாரத்தைச் சார்ந்தது. தகுந்த இடத்தை அறிந்து, பலத்துடன் செயல்பட்டால், நம்மை வீழ்த்த நினைப்பவர்களின் திட்டம் பலிக்காது. பாதுகாப்பான இடத்தில் இருந்து செயல்படுவதே புத்திசாலித்தனம். இடம் அறிந்து செயல்பட்டால் வெற்றி நிச்சயம்.
Word meanings
- எண்ணியார்eṇṇiyārthose who planned
- எண்ணம்eṇṇamplan
- இழப்பர்iḻapparwill lose
- இடன்iṭaṉplace
- அறிந்துaṟintuknowing
- துன்னியார்tuṉṉiyārthose who approached
- துன்னிtuṉṉiapproaching firmly
- செயின்ceyiṉif they act
Story behind this kural
The old farmer, Elango, knew his land like the lines on his own weathered hands. When the greedy merchant, Maran, plotted to seize Elango's fertile fields, he chose his moment. Maran sent his men to steal Elango's harvest under the cover of darkness. Elango, however, anticipated Maran's scheme. He had studied the patterns of the wind, the phases of the moon, and the routes through his land. He knew the best vantage points. When Maran's men crept in, they found not defenseless fields, but a prepared defense. Elango's loyal villagers, hidden among the crops, sprang into action. They used the terrain to their advantage, ambushing the thieves and driving them away. The merchant's plans crumbled, undone by the farmer's knowledge of his ground. Maran, watching from afar, could only fume at his foiled plot. The harvest remained safe, and the villagers continued their peaceful life.