Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,338
Date uploaded in London – 24 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
Like the previous chapter, Valluvar used Pancha Tantra stories again in this chapter. The crocodile, elephant in marsh etc are in the Sanskrit book.
Valluvar, when use such stories, use them together; that means he has already taken some notes (on his palm leaves) and use them at one go.
Elsewhere I have given the list where he used Panchatantra stories in Kurals:
Pancha tantra stories in Tiruk Kural:-
273 (Cow clothed in Tiger’s Skin);
274 (Hunter seeking birds hiding in bush);
277 (Red berry Abrus with Black in tip);
481 (Crow defeating Owl in day time);
490 (waiting Heron striking Fish at right time);
495 (Crocodile in Water more powerful);
500 (Elephant trapped by cunning Fox);
565 (Ghost with Seven Jars of Gold -Story told by Ramakrishna Paramahamsar);
890 (Living with Serpent in a hut).
Valluvar used such stories together; see the number sequence of Kurals;
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Chapter 50- On the choice of Right Arena; Choosing the Right Place; இடனறிதல்
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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 68; Chapter 50 in Tirukkural Book.
491.Declare no war, despise not the enemy, until you have got the vantage ground -A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
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491.It is unwise to start an operation without deciding a suitable arena for it,
It will further be foolish to under-estimate the enemy- S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000
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491
Begin no work of war, depise no foe,
Till place where you can wholly circumvent you know.
Let not (a king) despise (an enemy), nor undertake any thing (against him), until he has obtained (a suitable) place for besieging him. -Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
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491.No action take, no foe despise
Until you have surveyed the place. Suddhananda Bharathiyar – SB
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491.Begin no military action; do not totally despise the enemy until you survey the right field for action- EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986
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491. தொடங்கற்க எவ்வினையும் எள்ளற்க முற்றும்
இடங்கண்ட பின்அல் லது
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492.It is a great advantage even to mighty and brave warriors to give battle from impregnable mountain fortresses – ANM+2
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492.Even if your force is of diverse nature, motivated and strong,
Defensive fortification does give added strength– SMD, Year 2000
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492
Though skill in war combine with courage tried on battle-field,
The added gain of fort doth great advantage yield.
Even to those who are men of power and expedients, an attack in connection with a fortification will yield many advantages. GUP, Year 1886
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492.Many are gains of fortresses
Ev’n to kings of power and prowess. – SB
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492.A strong fortress is of strong advantage even to leaders of mighty power and prowess- EVS, Year 1986
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492. முரண்சேர்ந்த மொய்ம்பி னவர்க்கும் அரண்சேர்ந்தாம்
ஆக்கம் பலவுந் தரும்
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493.Even the weak can maintain their strength and triumph over the enemy, if they spy out a suitable field of action– ANM+2
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493.Even with a weaker force you will still prevail against a stronger army,
If you chose the right place and operate with care– SMD, Year 2000
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493
E’en weak ones mightily prevail, if place of strong defence,
They find, protect themselves, and work their foes offence.
Even the powerless will become powerful and conquer, if they select a proper field (of action), and guard themselves, while they make war on their enemies. GUP, Year 1886
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493.Weaklings too withstand foe’s offence
In proper fields of strong defence. – SB
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493.Even the weak can withstand a mighty enemy and conquer in a suitable field strong in defence- EVS, Year 1986
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493. ஆற்றாரும் ஆற்றி அடுப இடனறிந்து
போற்றார்கண் போற்றிச் செயின்.
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494.All the stratagems of the enemy will be baffled, of the king fortifies himself in a well-built stronghold– ANM+2
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494.Yor enemy will not achieve his planned victory over you,
If you give battle from a well-protected place of vantage– SMD, Year 2000
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494
The foes who thought to triumph, find their thoughts were vain,
If hosts advance, seize vantage ground, and thence the fight maintain.
If they who draw near (to fight) choose a suitable place to approach (their enemy), the latter, will have to relinquish the thought which they once entertained, of conquering them. GUP, Year 1886
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494.If fighters fight in vantage field
The plans of foes shall be baffled. – SB
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494.The plans of presumptuous enemies shall be baffled if the vantage ground is chosen by the fighter -EVS, Year 1986
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494. எண்ணியார் எண்ணம் இழப்பர் இடனறிந்து
துன்னியார் துன்னிச் செயின்
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495.In the depths of a mighty river, the crocodile is all powerful; on the shore it is a plaything in the hands of its foes– ANM+2
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495.In the deep waters of a river the crocodile will beat all,
But out of those waters, it will be absolutely helpless– SMD, Year 2000
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495
The crocodile prevails in its own flow of water wide,
If this it leaves, ’tis slain by anything beside.
In deep water, a crocodile will conquer (all other animals); but if it leave the water, other animals will conquer it. GUP, Year 1886
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495.In water crocodile prevails
In land before others it fails. – SB
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495.In deep water the crocodile overpowers all; out of water , others overpower it -EVS, Year 1986
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495. நெடும்புனலுள் வெல்லும் முதலை அடும்புனலின்
நீங்கின் அதனைப் பிற.
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496.The mighty car, that thunders its huge wheels on the stony pavement, sails not on ocean streams, nor does the ship that cleaves the waters sail on dry land– ANM+2
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496.The strong wheeled chariot cannot be driven on the high seas,
So too, the swift sailing ship cannot be propelled on ground– SMD, Year 2000
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496
The lofty car, with mighty wheel, sails not o’er watery main,
The boat that skims the sea, runs not on earth’s hard plain.
Wide chariots, with mighty wheels, will not run on the ocean; neither will ships that the traverse ocean, move on the earth. GUP, Year 1886
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496.Sea-going ship goes not on shore
Nor on sea the strong-wheeled car. – SB
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496.The sea-sailing ship cannot move on land. The strong wheeled high chariot cannot run on water–EVS, Year 1986
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The strong wheeled lofty chariot rides not upon the sea;
The ocean- going vessel goes not upon the land- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
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496. கடலோடா கால்வல் நெடுந்தேர் கடலோடும்
நாவாயும் ஓடா நிலத்து
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497.Behold the prince who makes his stand on a well garrisoned fortress. Does he need any other aid than his own fearless valour to quell the foe? – ANM+2
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497.If your operations in battle are planned, considering every single enemy design,
With no other aid but fearlessness, you will prevail– SMD, Year 2000
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497
Save their own fearless might they need no other aid,
If in right place they fight, all due provision made.
You will need no other aid than fearlessness, if you thoroughly reflect (on what you are to do), and select (a suitable) place for your operations. GUP, Year 1886
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497.No aid but daring dash they need
When field is chosen right for deed. – SB
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497.Only daring dash is needed to aid a hero to victory, when he choses the right field for action–EVS, Year 1986
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497. அஞ்சாமை அல்லால் துணைவேண்டா எஞ்சாமை
எண்ணி இடத்தால் செயின்
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498.A weak army in a safe retreat brings to nought the glory of even a mighty phalanx– ANM+2
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498.If a large army is constrained to operate in an area, meant for a small force,
They will have no place for manoeuvre, and so get demoralised– SMD, Year 2000
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498
If lord of army vast the safe retreat assail
Of him whose host is small, his mightiest efforts fail.
The power of one who has a large army will perish, if he goes into ground where only a small army can act. GUP, Year 1886
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498.Though force is small, if place is right
One quells a foe of well-armed might. – SB 498
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498.The army may be small; but in the right place, even a strong-armed enemy can be quelled–EVS, Year 1986
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498. சிறுபடையான் செல்லிடம் சேரின் உறுபடையான்
ஊக்கம் அழிந்து விடும்
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499.It is hazardous to measure your strength with the enemy on his own ground, however feeble he may be without even the vestige of a good fortress– ANM+2
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499.Although they may lack fortresses and armies it will not be easy,
To attack and dislodge people in their own homesteads– SMD, Year 2000
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499
Though fort be none, and store of wealth they lack,
‘Tis hard a people’s homesteads to attack!
It is a hazardous thing to attack men in their own country, although they may neither have power nor a good fortress. GUP, Year 1886
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499.To face a foe at home is vain
Though fort and status are not fine. – SB
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499.Though the foe has no advantage of fort or strength, hard it is to attack him on his own ground- EVS, Year 1986
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499. சிறைநலனும் சீரும் இலரெனினும் மாந்தர்
உறைநிலத்தோடு ஒட்டல் அரிது
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500.Even a jackal will vanquish an unruly elephant that has born the brunt of many a lance and transfixed the armed men, when he gets stuck up into a treacherous marshy swamp– ANM+2
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500.On marshy ground, where the foot sinks, even a fox can beat a mighty elephant,
With fearless eyes on his majestic face, and two spears too of ivory– SMD, Year 2000
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500
The jackal slays, in miry paths of foot-betraying fen,
The elephant of fearless eye and tusks transfixing armed men.
A fox can kill a fearless, warrior-faced elephant, if it go into mud in which its legs sink down. GUP, Year 1886
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500.A fox can kill a war tusker
Fearless with feet in deep quagmire. – SB
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500.A fierce elephant that has faced lancers, can be foiled by a fox, if it is stuck in a marshy ground –EVS, Year 1986
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500.The jackal ,when in miry soil, in which the feet sink deep,
Will kill the fearless elephant that goreth armed men- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
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500. காலாழ் களரில் நரியடும் கண்ணஞ்சா
வேளாள் முகத்த களிறு.
–subham—
Tags- More from Pancha Tantra, Tirukkural Encyclopaedia, Chapter 50- Choosing the Right Place, இடனறிதல்
