Kural #749
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
முன்னாது முற்றிய தீமை
அறைப்பொறுத்த கன்னாளை நாட்பக் கொடின்
Muṉṉātu muṟṟiya tīmai
Aṟaippoṟutta kaṉṉāḷai nāṭpak koṭiṉ
English translation
If a fort can endure siege for a long time, the evil that befell it earlier will mature into ultimate victory.
Listen
Explanation
A well-provisioned fort that can withstand prolonged siege turns initial adversity into advantage, as time works against the besieging army through supply exhaustion and troop demoralization.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 749 விளக்கம்: ஒரு கோட்டை நீண்ட நாள் முற்றுகையைத் தாங்கினால், முதலில் ஏற்பட்ட தீமையே முடிவில் வெற்றியாக மாறும். அரண் அதிகாரத்தில், வலிமையான கோட்டை பகைவரை வெல்லும் என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது. பொறுமையே வெற்றி தரும்.
Word meanings
- முன்னாதுmuṉṉātubefore/earlier
- முற்றியmuṟṟiyamature/fully develop
- தீமைtīmaievil/trouble
- அறைaṟaifort
- பொறுத்தpoṟuttaendured/sustained
- கல்kalmany
- நாள்nāḷdays
- நாட்புnāṭpuestablishing/maintaining
- அக்akif
- கொடின்koṭiṉgives/provides
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria was famed for its sturdy walls and plentiful granaries. When the greedy King Vorlag laid siege, the villagers were frightened, but their elder, Elara, reminded them of their preparations. Vorlag's army, vast and hungry, hurled themselves against Eldoria's defenses. Days turned into weeks. Arrows flew, stones crashed, but the walls held. Inside, rations were managed, repairs were made, and hope flickered. The villagers sang songs of defiance, their spirits unbroken. Outside, Vorlag's soldiers grew weary. Their supplies dwindled, and the initial fury faded. Whispers of mutiny arose. The siege, meant to crush, began to crumble under the weight of its own ambition. Finally, after months, Vorlag, defeated and demoralized, ordered the retreat. Eldoria, battered but unbowed, opened its gates to the cheering villagers. They had endured, and in their endurance, they had triumphed.