Kural #673
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Tamil text
ஒல்லும்வாய் எல்லாம் வினைநன்றே
ஒல்லாக்கால் செல்லும்வாய் நோக்கிச் செயல்
Ollumvāy ellām viṉainaṉṟē
Ollākkāl cellumvāy nōkkic ceyal
English translation
Act whenever opportunity permits; when direct action fails, seek alternative approaches.
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Explanation
Seize every opportunity (ஒல்லும்வாய்) for good action. When obstacles arise (ஒல்லாக்கால்), find alternative paths (செல்லும்வாய்). Persistence with flexibility ensures success.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 673: எந்தச் சந்தர்ப்பம் கிடைத்தாலும் செயலைச் செய்து முடி. முடியாவிட்டால், வேறு வழியைத் தேடிச் செயல்படு. விடாமுயற்சியும் தந்திரமும் வினைசெயல்வகையில் முக்கியம். முயன்றால் முடியாதது இல்லை.
Word meanings
- ஒல்லும்ollumpossible/agreeable
- வாய்vāyopportunity/way
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- வினைviṉaiaction
- நன்றேnaṉṟēis good indeed
- ஒல்லாக்கால்ollākkālwhen not possible
- செல்லும்வாய்cellumvāyfeasible way
- நோக்கிnōkkilooking for
- செயல்ceyalact
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a fertile valley, lived a young farmer named Arul. He dreamt of owning the richest fields, but his initial attempts at irrigation failed. The river refused to cooperate, its waters stubbornly diverted by a rocky outcrop. Arul, however, was not one to despair. He observed the sun's path, the wind's direction, and the subtle shifts in the soil. Seeing the impossibility of immediate direct action, he changed his approach. He studied the ancient maps, learned from the village elder, and sought advice from passing merchants. He then decided to work on a different portion of his land, away from the river. He dug deep wells, gathered rainwater, and planted crops that needed less water. Slowly but surely, his fields began to flourish. His perseverance, coupled with his willingness to adapt, brought him the wealth he desired. His neighbors, who had mocked his early failures, soon sought his guidance.