Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,325
Date uploaded in London – 20 October 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
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tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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Points to Ponder
Though Tiru Valluvar gave this advice to the Rulers/Kings, it is applicable to anyone who starts a business or a project or any new endeavour.
Think first; assess the pros and cons; don’t overload; and go ahead.
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Two similes: peacock feather cart and going up the tree are his original similes.
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Kural 475: Don’t Overload! a few Sanskrit words in Kural 475 are noted (saakaadu=Sakata in Sanskrit; Panda=thing, object.
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Go to Project Madurai website for all Tamil books; it is free and trouble free. No advertisements; no cookies!
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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
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Part 66; Chapter 48 in Tirukkural Book.
Chapter 48-Forethought -The Knowledge of Power- வலியறிதல்
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471.Consider the hardships of the expedition, your strength and the strength of your enemy, the strength also of your allies, and then go to war- A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 (B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
***
471.A king will assess the force he needs, the force at his disposal , the enemy’s strength,
And that of his allies, before he launches on an operation -S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000
***
471
The force the strife demands, the force he owns, the force of foes,
The force of friends; these should he weigh ere to the war he goes.
Let (one) weigh well the strength of the deed (he purposes to do), his own strength, the strength of his enemy, and the strength of the allies (of both), and then let him act.- Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
***
471.Judge act and might and foeman’s strength
The allies’ strength and go at length. Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB
***
471.Weigh the magnitude of your action, your strength, the strength of your allies and then resort to it- EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986
***
471. வினைவலியும் தன்வலியும் மாற்றான் வலியும்
துணைவலியும் தூக்கிச் செயல்.
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472.The king who understands the nature of his enterprises, weighs his strength, and is ever intent on it, knows no defeat– ANM+2
***
472.For a king, who is aware of his range of possibilities, and studies related problems in full
Nothing is impossible, if he concentrates on his enterprise– – SMD
***
472
Who know what can be wrought, with knowledge of the means, on this,
Their mind firm set, go forth, nought goes with them amiss.
There is nothing which may not be accomplished by those who, before they attack (an enemy), make themselves acquainted with their own ability, and with whatever else is (needful) to be known, and apply themselves wholly to their object. – GUP
***
472.Nothing hampers the firm who know
What they can and how to go. – SB
***
472.Nothing is impossible for the leader who knows his ability, facts and tacts and braves his limit– EVS
***
472. ஒல்வ தறிவது அறிந்ததன் கண்தங்கிச்
செல்வார்க்குச் செல்லாதது இல்.
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473.Many a monarch who Has not gauged his strength, and that of his powerful enemy has been humbled in the midst of the battle– ANM+2
***
473.Many ambitious kings have enthusiastically over-rated their own strength
And destroyed themselves during their campaign—SMD
***
473
Ill-deeming of their proper powers, have many monarchs striven,
And midmost of unequal conflict fallen asunder riven.
There are many who, ignoran t of their (want of) power (to meet it), have haughtily set out to war, and broken down in the midst of it. – GUP
***
473.Many know not their meagre might
Their pride breaks up in boastful fight. – SB
***
473.Many are they who ventured on action without knowing the strength they had and broke down in the middle– EVS
***
473. உடைத்தம் வலியறியார் ஊக்கத்தின் ஊக்கி
இடைக்கண் முரிந்தார் பலர்.
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474.Destruction swift overtakes the king who is ignorant of his resources, boastful of his greatness and does not live in harmony with the neighbouring princes– ANM+2
***
474.Those, who do not know to live in peace, knowing their own limitations,
But are full of self -conceit, will surely come to a swift end- SMD
***
474
Who not agrees with those around, no moderation knows,
In self-applause indulging, swift to ruin goes.
He will quickly perish who, ignorant of his own resources flatters himself of his greatness, and does not live in peace with his neighbours. – GUP
***
474.Who adapts not, outsteps measure
And brags himself-his fall is sure. – SB
***
474.He quicky comes to grief who does not remain in peace and thinks highly of himself without knowing the measure of his strength– EVS
***
474. அமைந்தாங் கொழுகான் அளவறியான் தன்னை
வியந்தான் விரைந்து கெடும்.
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475.What if it is a cart load of light peacock feathers? The last feather will break its axle – ANM+2
***
475.Too great even a load of peacock feathers will break
The axle tree of the cart- SMD
***
475
With peacock feathers light, you load the wain;
Yet, heaped too high, the axle snaps in twain.
The axle tree of a bandy, loaded only with peacocks’ feathers will break, if it be greatly overloaded. – GUP
***
475.Even the gentle peacock’s plume
Cart’s axle breaks by gross volume. – SB
***
475.The axle of an overloaded cart breaks by adding even a gentle peacock’s feather– EVS
***
475.Even if with peacocks’ feathers the cart be piled high
The axle-tree will break, if over bulky the load- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
***
475. பீலிபெய் சாகாடும் அச்சிறும் அப்பண்டஞ்
சால மிகுத்துப் பெயின்.
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476.There will be an end to this life who, having climbed out to the end of a branch, ventures to go further– ANM+2
***
476.The person, who climbs a tree up to the thin end of its branch,
And still attempts to go farther, will perish by a sure fall– SMD
***
476
Who daring climbs, and would himself upraise
Beyond the branch’s tip, with life the forfeit pays.
There will be an end to the life of him who, having climbed out to the end of a branch, ventures to go further. – GUP
***
476.Beyond the branches’ tip who skips
Ends the life as his body rips. – SB
***
476.There will be an end to the life of a man who having climbed out to the end of a branch attempts to go further– EVS
***
476.Those who climbed to the branch’s utmost tip
And still go pressing on, will surely lose their life-HAP
***
476. நுனிக்கொம்பர் ஏறினார் அஃதிறந் தூக்கின்
உயிர்க்கிறுதி யாகி விடும்.
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477.Let your charity be proportionate to your wealth. That is the way to preserve it– ANM+2
***
477.A wise man has a measure of his income and a plan for his charity,
That is the way to protect his wealth and live with dignity- SMD
***
477
With knowledge of the measure due, as virtue bids you give!
That is the way to guard your wealth, and seemly live.
Let a man know the measure of his ability (to give), and let him give accordingly; such giving is the way to preserve his property. – GUP
***
477.Know the limit; grant with measure
This way give and guard your treasure. – SB
***
477.Take measure of what you may part with and give in the right manner; that is the way to cherish wealth– EVS
***
477. ஆற்றின் அளவறிந்து ஈக அதுபொருள்
போற்றி வழங்கும் நெறி.
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478. No evil befalls the king whose expenditure does not overrun his income– ANM+2
***
478.It matters little if the channel of inflow is small and narrow,
Provided thee out-flow is not disproportionate- SMD
***
478
Incomings may be scant; but yet, no failure there,
If in expenditure you rightly learn to spare.
Even though the income (of a king) be small, it will not cause his (ruin), if his outgoings be not larger than his income. – GUP
***
478.The outflow must not be excess
No matter how small income is. – SB
***
478.Small as the sources of income may be, there is no harm if the sources of expenditure not heavy– EVS
***
478. ஆகாறு அளவிட்டி தாயினும் கேடில்லை
போகாறு அகலாக் கடை.
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479.Behold the monarch who lavishes his wealth beyond his resources; he appears to be prosperous, but he only treads the downward path to destruction– ANM+2
***
479.The apparent prosperity of a man, living beyond his means,
Would soon disappear without a trace- SMD
***
479
Who prosperous lives and of enjoyment knows no bound,
His seeming wealth, departing, nowhere shall be found.
The prosperity of him who lives without knowing the measure (of his property), will perish, even while it seems to continue. – GUP
***
479.Who does not know to live in bounds
His life seems rich but thins and ends. – SB
***
479. A man’s life and wealth seem rich, but they dwindle and end if he does not live within thrifty limits– EVS
***
479. அளவறிந்து வாழாதான் வாழ்க்கை உளபோல
இல்லாகித் தோன்றாக் கெடும்.
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480.Extravagance, which is blind to its resources, perishes– ANM+2
***
480.Limitless munificence in the sharing of one’s wealth,with those that deserve too,
Will result in final disappearance of that wealth– SMD
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480
Beneficence that measures not its bound of means,
Will swiftly bring to nought the wealth on which it leans.
The measure of his wealth will quickly perish, whose liberality weighs not the measure of his property. – GUP
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480.Wealth amassed quickly vanishes
Sans level if one lavishes. – SB
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480.His amassed wealth will quickly vanish who lavishes it without thrift, upon needless things—EVS
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480. உளவரை தூக்காத ஒப்புர வாண்மை
வளவரை வல்லைக் கெடும்.
—subham—
Tags- வலியறிதல் – Judging strength, Tirukkural Encyclopaedia -Chapter 48
