Kural #774
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Tamil text
ஒன்னாரை தேறார் உடலும்
படையது தன் நோனாமை வேட்பவர் ஆட்டு
Oṉṉārai tēṟār uṭalum
Paṭaiyatu taṉ ṉōṉāmai vēṭpavar āṭṭu
English translation
The army that does not fear foes and fights fiercely belongs to those who desire that it endure no suffering.
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Explanation
A paradox of leadership: soldiers fight fearlessly (ஒன்னாரை தேறார் - not fearing enemies) for commanders who genuinely care about their welfare (நோனாமை வேட்பவர் - who desire they suffer not).
விளக்கம்
பகைவரைப் பார்த்து பயப்படாமல் வீரத்துடன் போரிடும் படை, தன் வீரர்களின் கஷ்டத்தைப் போக்க விரும்பும் தலைவனுக்குச் சொந்தமாகும். படைச்செருக்கு அதிகாரத்தில், வீரர்களுக்குத் துன்பம் வராமல் காப்பதே தலைவனின் கடமை என்கிறது குறள். நல்ல தலைவன் வீரர்களைக் காத்தால், வீரர்கள் வெற்றியைத் தருவார்கள்.
Word meanings
- ஒன்னார்oṉṉārenemies
- தேறார்tēṟārnot fearing
- உடலும்uṭalumfighting
- படைpaṭaiarmy
- அதுatuthat
- தன்taṉits own
- நோனாமைṉōṉāmainot suffering
- வேட்பவர்vēṭpavarthose who desire
- ஆட்டுāṭṭupossession/control
Story behind this kural
The King surveyed his army. They stood, a sea of steel and leather, ready for battle. His generals, faces etched with worry, advised a cautious strategy. "Spare the men, your Majesty," one pleaded. "Victory can wait." But the King, before the battle, walked amongst his soldiers. He asked about their families, their worries, their hopes. He knew each man by name. When the horns blew, he led the charge, not from the rear, but at the front, his own sword flashing. He fought with them, not above them. The enemy, seeing their King's fervor, faltered. His army, inspired by his bravery and care, fought with a ferocity that surprised even themselves. They faced the enemy's spears, not with fear, but with a shared resolve. That day, the King's army won a decisive victory. But more than the victory, it was the loyalty in their eyes that was the true reward. They knew their King would never ask them to do something he would not do himself.