Kural #745
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Tamil text
உருமறைந்த வின்னா தெறிந்து ஒரூஉ
இல்லார்த்தனை அரும் தின் அரணஃதொன் றில்
Urumaṟainta viṉṉā teṟintu orūu
Illārttaṉai arum tiṉ araṇahdoṉ ṟil
English translation
A fort that conceals its form, rains down destruction, and offers no weakness is the most difficult to conquer.
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Explanation
The ideal fortress has deceptive appearance hiding its true strength, powerful offensive capabilities from defensive positions, and no exploitable vulnerabilities for attackers to target.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 745 விளக்கம்: ஒரு கோட்டை பார்க்கச் சாதாரணமாகத் தெரிந்தாலும், எதிரிகளைத் தாக்கும் வல்லமையும், பலவீனமில்லாமலும் இருந்தால், அதை வெல்வது கடினம். அரண் அதிகாரத்தில், ஒரு கோட்டையின் வலிமையே அதன் பாதுகாப்புத் திறன்தான் என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது. தோற்றத்தை வைத்து ஏமாறக்கூடாது.
Word meanings
- உருuruform/appearance
- மறைந்தmaṟaintahidden/concealed
- இன்னாதுviṉṉātutroubles/harm
- எறிந்துeṟintuthrows/rains down
- ஒரூஉorūuweakness/flaw
- இல்ilwithout
- ஆர்த்தனைārttaṉailike that
- அரும்arumdifficult
- தின்tiṉto eat/conquer
- அரண்araṇfort
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria was known for its sturdy defenses. Its walls were tall, its gates strong. Yet, the armies of the Shadow King always found a way to breach them. One year, a new elder, Anya, was appointed. She ordered the village to appear unchanged, even weakened. The walls remained, but the gates stood perpetually open, welcoming. The Shadow King's spies reported this, and the King laughed, readying his troops for an easy victory. He marched on Eldoria, expecting swift conquest. But as his soldiers entered, the open gates slammed shut. Hidden catapults rained stones, and archers emerged from unseen towers. The village, seemingly vulnerable, unleashed its true strength. The Shadow King's army, trapped and bewildered, was utterly defeated. Eldoria, seemingly weak, was invincible.