Kural #876
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Tamil text
தன்துணை இன்றால் பகையிரண்டால்
தானொருவன் இன்துணையாக் கொள்கவற்றின் ஒன்று
Taṉtuṇai iṉṟāl pakaiyiraṇṭāl
Tāṉoruvaṉ iṉtuṇaiyāk koḷkavaṟṟiṉ oṉṟu
English translation
If one stands alone without allies against two enemies, let him win over one of them as a sweet companion.
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Explanation
Strategic wisdom: when facing multiple enemies without support, convert one enemy into an ally. This divides opposition and strengthens your position - a classic principle of statecraft.
விளக்கம்
தனி ஒருவனாக, துணை இல்லாமல் இரு எதிரிகளை எதிர்கொண்டால், அவர்களில் ஒருவரை நண்பனாக்கிக் கொள். இது எதிரிகளின் பலத்தை குறைத்து, நம்மை பலப்படுத்தும். பகைத்திறம் தெரிதல் அதிகாரத்தில், எதிரியின் பலவீனத்தை அறிந்து செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்பதே இதன் நீதி.
Word meanings
- தன்taṉone's own
- துணைtuṇaially/support
- இன்றுiṉṟuwithout
- ஆல்ālif/when
- பகைpakaienemy
- இரண்டுiraṇṭutwo
- தான்tāṉoneself
- ஒருவன்oruvaṉone person
- இன்துணைiṉtuṇaisweet ally
- கொள்கkoḷkatake/win over
- ஒன்றுoṉṟuone
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Arul. He often ventured deep to find the finest timber. One day, two burly brothers, known for their greed, blocked his path, claiming the forest as their own. Arul, though skilled, was outnumbered. He knew he couldn't fight them both. He approached the elder brother, offering a share of his day's work if they would let him pass. The elder, tempted by the promise of easy gain, agreed. They formed a temporary alliance. Together, Arul and the elder brother worked, while the younger brother watched, fuming. The woodcutter, with the elder brother's support, found the richest trees. The elder brother grew wealthy and no longer cared for his brother's anger. Soon, the younger brother, seeing the benefit of the alliance, stormed off in a rage. Arul, with his new companion, continued his work, stronger than before.