Kural #672
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
தூங்குக தூங்கிச் செயற்பால
தூங்கற்க தூங்காது செய்யும் வினை
Tūṅkuka tūṅkic ceyaṟpāla
Tūṅkaṟka tūṅkātu ceyyum viṉai
English translation
Delay in matters that require delay; do not delay in matters that require swift action.
Listen
Explanation
Wisdom lies in knowing when to wait and when to act. Some tasks (செயற்பால) need patient deliberation (தூங்குக), while others demand immediate action (தூங்கற்க). Timing is everything.
விளக்கம்
செய்ய வேண்டிய வேலைகளில் எவற்றை தாமதிக்கலாமோ, அவற்றை தாமதிக்கவும். எவற்றை தாமதிக்க கூடாதோ, அவற்றை உடனே செய்யவும். காலமறிந்து செயல்படுவதே வினைசெயல்வகையின் சிறப்பு. இதுவே வெற்றியின் வழி.
Word meanings
- தூங்குகtūṅkukadelay/wait
- தூங்கிtūṅkihaving delayed
- செயற்பாலceyaṟpālatasks that require
- தூங்கற்கtūṅkaṟkado not delay
- தூங்காதுtūṅkātuwithout delay
- செய்யும்ceyyumto be done
- வினைviṉaitask/action
Story behind this kural
The old farmer, Elan, needed to repair his crumbling barn. "Tomorrow," he'd mutter, each day putting off the work. Rain threatened, but Elan kept delaying, patching only the most urgent leaks. Meanwhile, a merchant, Ravi, planned a long journey to sell his goods. He spent weeks meticulously preparing, securing travel permits, and organizing his caravan. Every detail was considered. One day, a sudden storm struck Elan's village. The barn collapsed, ruining his harvest. He watched helplessly. Ravi, however, set off as planned. He reached the market before his rivals, selling his goods at a great profit. He had chosen the right time to act. Elan, however, had chosen to wait.