Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,331
Date uploaded in London – 22 October 2026
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Points to Ponder
Echo of Panchatantra Stories!
Crows attacking owls form the fifth part of Pancha tantra book. That is the scene that provoked Asvaththama to set fire to Pandava camps at the dead of night, according to Mahabharata.
The heron/Stork simile is in Manu Smriti too.
The charging ram is in Pancha tantra.
Valluvar , when use Pancha tantra stories, use them one after another in the same chapter. He must have kept the book by his side.
All Hindus must read Pancha tantra original or full translation. It is not a children’s book. Thousands of beautiful quotations are in the book.
Valluvar has used several quotations in his Tirukkural
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Tirukkural Encyclopaedia -Chapter 49- Right Time காலமறிதல்
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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 67; Chapter 49 in Tirukkural Book.
Chapter 49-ON THE CHOICE OF THE RIGHT TIME;KNOWING THE OPPORTUNITY; SEIZING THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT;TIME; காலமறிதல் – Knowing proper time
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481.Even a crow overcomes an owl by day; like wise the king must seize the right hour to strike blow at his enemy- A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
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481.A crow may overcome a much stronger bird, the owl during day-time,
Even so, at the right opportunity, the king could succeed easily in his campaigns – S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000
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481
A crow will conquer owl in broad daylight;
The king that foes would crush, needs fitting time to fight.
A crow will overcome an owl in the day time; so the king who would conquer his enemy must have (a suitable) time.- Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
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481.By day the crow defeats the owl
Kings need right time their foes to quell- Suddhananda Bharathiyar – SB
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481.The crow defeats the owl during day-time; the leader seeks the right time to quell the enemy- EVS Publishers, Singapore – EVS, Year 1986
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481.In clear day light , the crow will beat the owl; the king who would beat his foe must choose the fitting time-– HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
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481. பகல்வெல்லும் கூகையைக் காக்கை இகல்வெல்லும்
வேந்தர்க்கு வேண்டும் பொழுது.
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482.Strike at the right moment. That is the string which binds fickle fortune to your triumphant chariot wheels – ANM+2
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482. Tying up operational details to the season’s variations is the rope,
Which binds the king inseparably to prosperity– SMD
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482
The bond binds fortune fast is ordered effort made,
Strictly observant still of favouring season’s aid.
Acting at the right season, is a cord that will immoveably bind success (to a king). – GUP
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482.Well-ordered seasoned act is cord
That fortune binds in bon accord– SB.
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482.Acting at appropriate season is a cord that will immutably bind wealth to a leader- EVS
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482. பருவத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகல் திருவினைத்
தீராமை ஆர்க்கும் கயிறு.
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483.No enterprise is difficult to a king who is well equipped and avails himself of the opportune moment – ANM+2
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483.Is there anything impossible if the right means are adopted and the right hour chosen? – SMD
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483
Can any work be hard in very fact,
If men use fitting means in timely act?
Is there anything difficult for him to do, who acts, with (the right) instruments at the right time ? – GUP
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483.What is hard for him who acts
With proper means and time and tacts? – SB.
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483.What is difficult for him to achieve who adopts proper means and tact and acts in right time?- EVS
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483.Is anything too hard for men to win, if they with fitting means will chose the fitting time?- HAP
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483. அருவினை என்ப உளவோ கருவியான்
காலம் அறிந்து செயின்
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484.Even your ambition to be the sovereign of the world will be achieved, if the right hour and proper place be chosen– ANM+2
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484.A man, aspiring to conquer the whole world too, will succeed
If he choses the right time and place of action– SMD
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484
The pendant world’s dominion may be won,
In fitting time and place by action done.
Though (a man) should meditate (the conquest of) the world, he may accomplish it if he acts in the right time, and at the right place. – GUP
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484.Choose proper time and act and place
Even the world you win with ease– SB.
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484.One can win even the world if he choses the proper place and acts in the right hour- EVS
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484. ஞாலம் கருதினுங் கைகூடும் காலம்
கருதி இடத்தாற் செயின்.
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485.Mighty conquerors, who aspire to the sovereignty of the world, must also wait, unruffled, for the fitting moment – ANM+2
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485.The king, who aspires to conquer the whole world,
Will wait calmly for the right hour to strike– SMD
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485
Who think the pendant world itself to subjugate,
With mind unruffled for the fitting time must wait.
They who thoughtfully consider and wait for the (right) time (for action), may successfully meditate (the conquest of) the world. – GUP
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485.Who want to win the world sublime
Wait unruffled biding their time– SB.
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485.Heroes who want to conquer the world wait patiently for the proper time, gathering strength – EVS
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485. காலம் கருதி இருப்பர் கலங்காது
ஞாலம் கருது பவர்.
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486.The wise inaction of a man of energy is like the drawing back of a fierce battling ram– ANM+2
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486.The restraint of the energetic leader is like the rearward steps,
The fighting ram always takes before charging– SMD
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486
The men of mighty power their hidden energies repress,
As fighting ram recoils to rush on foe with heavier stress.
The self-restraint of the energetic (while waiting for a suitable opportunity), is like the drawing back of a fighting-ram in order to butt. – GUP
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486By self-restraint stalwarts keep fit
Like rams retreating but to butt– SB
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486.The quiescence of a strong man is like the step back of a fighting ram before charging – EVS
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486. ஊக்க முடையான் ஒடுக்கம் பொருதகர்
தாக்கற்குப் பேருந் தகைத்து.
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487.The prudent king does not fly into a fit of passion at the insult of his enemy; but smothers his wrath to allow it to burst into a greater fury at the right moment– ANM+2
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487.Even where injustice provokes the wise, they do not anger immediately
They smoulder inwardly and but bide their time– SMD
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487
The glorious once of wrath enkindled make no outward show,
At once; they bide their time, while hidden fires within them glow.
The wise will not immediately and hastily shew out their anger; they will watch their time, and restrain it within. – GUP
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487.The wise jut not their vital fire
They watch their time with hidden ire– SB.
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487.The wise do not straightway fly into a passion, but possess their soul in in patience biding their time- EVS
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487. பொள்ளென ஆங்கே புறம்வேரார் காலம்பார்த்து
உள்வேர்ப்பர் ஒள்ளி யவர்.
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488.Be humble towards your adversary, bide your time, strike the blow at right hour and then lay low the enemy– ANM+2
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488.Be courteous and even obsequious before your enemy,
When the time comes, he will bow before you– SMD
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488
If foes’ detested form they see, with patience let them bear;
When fateful hour at last they spy,- the head lies there.
If one meets his enemy, let him show him all respect, until the time for his destruction is come; when that is come, his head will be easily b rought low. – GUP
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488.Bear with hostiles when you meet them
Fell down their head in fateful time– SB.
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488.Boe to your foe when you see him; for when the time of his end is seen, his fall would be headlong- EVS
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488. செறுநரைக் காணின் சுமக்க இறுவரை
காணின் கிழக்காம் தலை.
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489.When you stumble upon a lucky chance, seize it and achieve the impossible– ANM+2
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489.Opportunity occurs but rarely; but when it does,
It is the right time to attempt even the impossible– SMD
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489
When hardest gain of opportunity at last is won,
With promptitude let hardest deed be done.
If a rare opportunity occurs, while it lasts, let a man do that which is rarely to be accomplished (but for such an opportunity). – GUP
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489.When comes the season ripe and rare
Dare and do hard things then and there. – SB.
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489.When a rare opportunity offers itself, accomplish forthwith the design that is difficult- EVS
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489. எய்தற் கரியது இயைந்தக்கால் அந்நிலையே
செய்தற் கரிய செயல்.
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490.When the tide is against you, feign inaction like the heron that waits with the folded wings; but when the tide is on launch with all the celerity of the crane seizing its prey– ANM+2
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490.Bide your time in the manner of the stork waiting for its suitable prey,
But when the prey is spotted, act with swift and sure aim– SMD
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490
As heron stands with folded wing, so wait in waiting hour;
As heron snaps its prey, when fortune smiles, put forth your power.
At the time when one should use self-control, let him restrain himself like a heron; and, let him like it, strike, when there is a favourable opportunity. – GUP
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490.In waiting time feign peace like stork
In fighting time strike like its peck– SB.
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490.In adverse time feign peace and wait like a heron. Strike like its peck when the time is opportune – EVS
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490.Be like the heron when it is time for lying low;
But like its strike, when time for action comes–HAP
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10. கொக்கொக்க கூம்பும் பருவத்து மற்றதன்
குத்தொக்க சீர்த்த இடத்து.
—subham—
Tags- Echo of Panchatantra Stories! Tirukkural Encyclopaedia -Chapter 49- Right Time காலமறிதல்
