Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,318
Date uploaded in London – 18 October 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
xxxx
POINTS TO PONDER
Tirukkural Encyclopaedia Chapter 47 Acting with Fore Thought தெரிந்து செயல்வகை:–
TO ERR IS HUMAN-
“To err is human” is a well-known proverb meaning that making mistakes is a natural and unavoidable part of human nature. Valluvar mentioned it in Kural 469.
xxx
Common men follow leaders; so, they must be careful not to do something stupid or unethical (Compare Kurals 464, 470)
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते।। 3-२१ ।।
yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate- BG 3-21
“Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues- Bhagavad Gita 3-21
xxx
Valluvar again and again emphasizes DO IN ROME AS ROMANS DO in Kurals-470, 140, 637; it is in another didactic work in Tamil -Pazamozi verse-195. Valluvar gives practical advice. It is in Pancha tantra as well.
xxx
Tirukkural Encyclopaedia Chapter 47 Acting with Fore Thought தெரிந்து செயல்வகை
xxx
Part 65; Chapter 47 in Tirukkural Book.
xxxx
Go to Project Madurai website for all Tamil books; it is free and trouble free. No advertisements; no cookies!
****
Following Translations are used:
1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000
3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB
5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986
6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
7.Tamil Original
****
Chapter 47-Acting with Fore Thought; On the Right Forethought; தெரிந்து செயல்வகை
***
461.Take stock of the expenditure, return , and profit of any enterprise; then embark on it -A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
***
461.The cost of sure destruction, possible acquisition as well as ultimate returns
Should be considered before launching any action-S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000
***
461
Expenditure, return, and profit of the deed
In time to come; weigh these- than to the act proceed.
Let a man reflect on what will be lost, what will be acquired and (from these) what will be his ultimate gain, and (then, let him) act.- Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
***
461.Weigh well output the loss and gain
And proper action ascertain. Suddhananda Bharathiyar – SB
***
461.Launch on an action deliberating well over the output,
loss and final gain- EVS Publishers, Singapore – EVS, Year 1986
***
461. அழிவதூஉம் ஆவதூஉம் ஆகி வழிபயக்கும்
ஊதியமும் சூழ்ந்து செயல்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
462.Nothing is impossible to the sovereign who has foresight and wisdom and act on the counsel of his ministers– ANM+2
***
462.For the prince going into action after worthy counselling and due consideration
No objective is beyond achievement– SMD
***
462
With chosen friends deliberate; next use the private thought;
Then act. By those who thus proceed all works with ease are wrought.
There is nothing too difficult to (be attained by) those who, before they act, reflect well themselves, and thoroughly consider (the matter) with chosen friends. – GUP
***
462.Nothing is hard for him who acts
With worthy counsels weighing facts. – SB
***
462.To him that takes counsel of tried friends and proceeds to act after proper deliberation, there is no end that is hard to achieve– EVS
****
462. தெரிந்த இனத்தொடு தேர்ந்தெண்ணிச் செய்வார்க்கு
அரும்பொருள் யாதொன்றும் இல்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
463.The wise embark not on such ain, alluring enterprises that swallow up their own capital– ANM+2
***
463.The wise conserve what is already gained’
Before entering on a doubtful enterprise– SMD
***
463
To risk one’s all and lose, aiming at added gain,
Is rash affair, from which the wise abstain.
Wise men will not, in the hopes of profit, undertake works that will consume their principal. – GUP
***
463.The wise risk not their capital
In doubtful gains and lose their all. – SB
***
463.The wise venture not, on enterprises that entail loss of the capital, in quest of doubtful gains– EVS
***
463. ஆக்கம் கருதி முதலிழக்கும் செய்வினை
ஊக்கார் அறிவுடை யார்,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
464.The great do not take a leap in the dark, lest they be ridiculed by others– ANM+2
***
464.None, fearing public disgrace, will venture on a project,
Without full deliberations and a clear decision– SMD
***
464
A work of which the issue is not clear,
Begin not they reproachful scorn who fear.
Those who fear reproach will not commence anything which has not been (thoroughly considered) and made clear to them. – GUP
***
464.They who scornful reproach fear
Commence no work not made clear. – SB
***
464.Thy never venture without deliberation who dread the pain of disgrace– EVS
***
464.தெளிவி லதனைத் தொடங்கார் இளிவென்னும்
ஏதப்பாடு அஞ்சு பவர்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
465.For a king to wage war without planning out the details, is pave the way to the success of the enemy– ANM+2
***
465.To rise against one’s enemies with ill-made plans,
Is to facilitate enemy occupation of one’s soil– SMD
***
465
With plans not well matured to rise against your foe,
Is way to plant him out where he is sure to grow!
One way to promote the prosperity of an enemy, is (for a king) to set out (to war) without having thoroughly weighed his ability (to cope with its chances). – GUP
***
465.Who marches without plans and ways
His field is sure to foster foes. – SB
***
465.To venture a march without plans and means, ends in planting foes on vantage fields– EVS
***
465. வகையறச் சூழா தெழுதல் பகைவரைப்
பாத்திப் படுப்பதோ ராறு.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
466.A king, guilty of wrongful deeds and neglect of duties, brings about his own ruin– ANM+2
***
466.Doing what is forbidden as well as not doing the obligatory,
Are both equally ruinous courses– SMD
***
466
‘Tis ruin if man do an unbefitting thing;
Fit things to leave undone will equal ruin bring.
He will perish who does not what is not fit to do; and he also will perish who does not do what it is fit to do. – GUP
***
466.Doing unfit action ruins
Failing fit-act also ruins. – SB
***
466.It is ruinous to do what should not be done; and ruinous also to omit what should be done– EVS
***
466.Ruin may come from doing what should not be done;
But also from not doing that which should be done- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
***
466. செய்தக்க அல்ல செயக்கெடும் செய்தக்க
செய்யாமை யானும் கெடும்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
467.Chalk out a course of action after great deliberation. It is the folly to think of consequences after having hastily launched out into action– ANM+2
***
467.Action should follow analytic decision, resulting from deep deliberations;
To postpone consideration until after commencing action is disgraceful– SMD
***
467
Think and then dare the deed! Who cry,
‘Deed dared, we’ll think,’ disgraced shall be.
Consider, and then undertake a matter; after having undertaken it, to say “We will consider,” is folly. – GUP
***
467.Think and dare a proper deed
Dare and think is bad in need. – SB
***
467.Venture on the action reflection; to say we will reflect after venturing is dangerous– EVS
***
467.Think well and then decide to do;
It is folly to decide, then say, “Now let us think”- HAP
***
467. எண்ணித் துணிக கருமம் துணிந்தபின்
எண்ணுவம் என்பது இழுக்கு.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
468.Any enterprise without design will go to pieces, though many have joined it– ANM+2
***
468.An enterprise, not based on thorough planning
Will fail even if supported by large numbers– SMD
***
468
On no right system if man toil and strive,
Though many men assist, no work can thrive.
The work, which is not done by suitable methods, will fail though many stand to uphold it. – GUP
***
468.Toil without a plan ahead
Is doomed to fall though supported. – SB
***
468.To strive and toil without proper plans is domed to shameful waste even if many back it – EVS
***
468. ஆற்றின் வருந்தா வருத்தம் பலர்நின்று
போற்றினும் பொத்துப் படும்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
469.Even a good act is marred, if it is done without a knowledge of the dispositions of men– ANM+2
***
469.If the nature and deeds of beneficiaries concerned are not taken into account,
Even in doing good, one may fall into error– SMD
***
469
Though well the work be done, yet one mistake is made,
To habitudes of various men when no regard is paid.
There are failures even in acting well, when it is done without knowing the various dispositions of men. – GUP
***
469.Attune the deeds to habitude
Or ev’n good leads to evil feud. – SB
***
469.Failure is possible even in a good plan when the respective dispositions of men have not been taken into account – EVS
****
469. நன்றாற்ற லுள்ளும் தவறுண்டு அவரவர்
பண்பறிந் தாற்றாக் கடை.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
470.Let not your acts be unworthy of a king; let them be above the reproach of men– ANM+2
***
470.Enlightened world will not tolerate actions unbecoming of a king
He should pursue only worthy ends with approved means– SMD
***
470
Plan and perform no work that others may despise;
What misbecomes a king the world will not approve as wise.
Let a man reflect, and do things which bring no reproach; the world will not approve, with him, of things which do not become of his position to adopt. – GUP
***
470.Do deeds above reproachfulness
The world refutes uncomely mess. – SB
***
470.Let your actions be above reproach and ridicule. The word will not accept inconsistent medley– EVS
***
470. எள்ளாத எண்ணிச் செயல்வேண்டும் தம்மொடு
கொள்ளாத கொள்ளாது உலகு.
—subham—
Tags– Tirukkural Encyclopaedia Chapter 47 Acting with Fore Thought தெரிந்து செயல்வகை, To err is human, People follow leaders
