Kural #678
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Tamil text
வினையான் வினையாக்கிக் கோடல்
நனைகவுள் யானையால் யானையாத் தற்று
Viṉaiyāṉ viṉaiyākkik kōṭal
Naṉaikavuḷ yāṉaiyāl yāṉaiyāt taṟṟu
English translation
Using one task to accomplish another is like using a dripping-templed elephant to capture another elephant.
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Explanation
A brilliant metaphor: just as a trained elephant (யானை) with musth (நனைகவுள் - dripping temples) captures wild elephants, one task can be leveraged to achieve another. Strategic thinking multiplies results.
விளக்கம்
ஒரு வேலையைச் செஞ்சா, அதுவே இன்னொரு வேலையை முடிக்க உதவும். நனைஞ்ச கன்னம் உள்ள யானையை வெச்சு இன்னொரு யானையைப் பிடிக்கிறது மாதிரி. ஒரு செயலால் பலன் பெறலாம். இது 'வினைசெயல்வகை' அதிகாரத்தில் முக்கியம்.
Word meanings
- வினையான்viṉaiyāṉby a task
- வினைviṉaitask
- ஆக்கிākkimaking/accomplishing
- கோடல்kōṭaltaking/seizing
- நனைnaṉaidripping/wet
- கவுள்kavuḷtemples (of head)
- யானையால்yāṉaiyālby an elephant
- யானைyāṉaielephant
- ஆத்தற்றுāttaṟṟucapturing/like
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria was plagued by wolves. They raided the sheep pens, leaving the villagers in fear. Old Man Hemlock, known for his cunning, proposed a solution. He announced he would build a sturdy fence, but the villagers must first build him a new barn. Skeptical, they agreed. Hemlock, using the barn's construction as leverage, bartered for the finest timber and skilled stonemasons. With the barn complete, Hemlock had the resources to build a fence of immense strength. The wolves, unable to breach the barrier, eventually moved on. The villagers, amazed, asked Hemlock why he started with the barn. He simply smiled, pointing to the fence. "The barn was the key," he said. "It provided the means to achieve our true goal." The village prospered, learning that one well-placed action could create the path for many more.