Kural #500
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Tamil text
காலாழ் களரில் நரியடும்
கண்ணஞ்சா வேலாள் முகத்த களிறு
Kālāḻ kaḷaril nariyaṭum
Kaṇṇañcā vēlāḷ mukatta kaḷiṟu
English translation
In miry ground, even a jackal can defeat an elephant that is driven by a fearless spearman.
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Explanation
This powerful concluding kural shows that terrain can completely reverse natural power relationships. The mighty war elephant with its brave driver becomes helpless in swampy ground where even a jackal can overcome it. Place determines victory, not inherent strength.
விளக்கம்
சேறுள்ள இடத்தில், வீர யானையும் நரிக்குத் தோற்கும். இடமறிந்து செயல்படணும். பலம் மட்டும் போதாது, சூழ்நிலையும் முக்கியம். "இடனறிதல்" அதிகாரத்தின்படி, சரியான இடத்தை தேர்ந்தெடுப்பது வெற்றிக்கு உதவும்.
Word meanings
- கால்kālfeet
- ஆழ்āḻsinking
- களரில்kaḷarilin miry/swampy ground
- நரிnarijackal
- அடும்aṭumwill defeat
- கண்kaṇeye
- அஞ்சாañcāfearless
- வேலாள்vēlāḷspearman
- முகத்தmukattadriven/led
- களிறுkaḷiṟuelephant
Story behind this kural
In a lush valley, lived two farmers: Arun, known for his strong oxen, and Bala, who had a clever mind. Arun boasted of his plowing strength, always choosing the widest, sun-baked fields. Bala, however, preferred the marshy lands near the river, often criticized for their unpredictable soil. One year, a terrible drought struck. Arun's fields cracked, his oxen struggling in the hard earth. His harvest dwindled. Meanwhile, Bala's land, though tricky, retained moisture. His crops, though smaller, thrived. He expertly navigated the soft ground, using his understanding of the soil to his advantage. As the harvest season ended, Arun watched Bala's full granaries with envy. He had underestimated the value of adapting to the environment. The strength of the oxen, once his pride, mattered little when the very ground beneath them failed.