Kural #766
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
கன்றில் களை இல்லை அன்றாகுங்
கண்ணதுவே நன்றெனப் படினும் படை
Kaṉḍril kaḷai illai aṉdrākuṅ
Kaṇṇatuvē naṉdreṉap paṭiṉum paṭai
English translation
An army without learned counsel lacks strength; even if called excellent, it will not be so.
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Explanation
Military force devoid of strategic wisdom and scholarly guidance is fundamentally weak, regardless of superficial appearances or popular acclaim of its might.
விளக்கம்
படைமாட்சி அதிகாரத்தில், கல்லாத அறிவில்லாத படை வலிமை இல்லாதது. அது நல்ல படை என்று சொன்னாலும், அது நல்லதாக ஆகாது. அறிவுள்ள தலைவர்களே படையை வழிநடத்த வேண்டும். அறிவில்லாப் படை பயனில்லை.
Word meanings
- கல்kallearning/knowledge
- இல்ilwithout
- களைkaḷaistrength/vigor
- இல்லைillaidoes not exist
- அன்றுaṉdrunot
- ஆகும்ākumwill be
- கண்ணதுkaṇṇatueven that
- வேvēindeed
- நன்றுnaṉdrugood/excellent
- எனப்படினும்eṉappaṭiṉumeven if called
- படைpaṭaiarmy
Story behind this kural
The King of Eldoria boasted of his mighty army. Their swords were the sharpest, their armor the shiniest, and their banners the grandest. Yet, the King scoffed at the wise old Seer's counsel. "We have strength, not need for dusty books," he'd declare. When war came, Eldoria's army charged with a roar. They routed the enemy's first line with ease. But the enemy, advised by their own scholars, had lured Eldoria into a narrow valley. The enemy archers rained arrows from above. The Eldorian knights, though brave, were trapped. Their strength became a disadvantage in the enclosed space. The King watched as his mighty army was defeated. The banners, once grand, now lay in the mud.