Kural 500Chapter 50: Knowing the Place

Thirukkural 500 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

காலாழ் களரில் நரியடும் கண்ணஞ்சா
வேலாள் முகத்த களிறு.

Transliteration

Kaalaazh Kalaril Nariyatum Kannanjaa
Velaal Mukaththa Kaliru

Modern English

“Great strength can fail when it is trapped in the wrong conditions.”

Modern Interpretation

Great strength can fail when it is trapped in the wrong conditions. For example, an expert who ignores an unfamiliar system may be outperformed by a less powerful person who understands that setting.

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Tamil pronunciation

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Modern Plain English

Great strength can fail when it is trapped in the wrong conditions.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

A fox can kill a war tusker Fearless with feet in deep quagmire

G.U. Pope Translation

The jackal slays, in miry paths of foot-betraying fen,The elephant of fearless eye and tusks transfixing armed men

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

A fox can kill a fearless, warrior-faced elephant, if it go into mud in which its legs sink down

Tamil commentary

பாகனுக்கு அடங்காததும், தன்னை எதிர்த்துப் பிடித்த வீரனைத் தன் தந்தத்தால் தாக்கித் தூக்கியதுமான ஆண்யானை, கால் புதையும் சேற்றில் சிக்கிக் கொண்டால், நரிகூட அதைக் கொன்றுவிடும்.

Chapter 50

More from Knowing the Place

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Kural 491

No action take, no foe despise Until you have surveyed the place

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Many are gains of fortresses Ev'n to kings of power and prowess

Kural 493

Weaklings too withstand foe's offence In proper fields of strong defence

Kural 494

If fighters fight in vantage field The plans of foes shall be baffled

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In water crocodile prevails In land before others it fails

Kural 496

Sea-going ship goes not on shore Nor on sea the strong-wheeled car

Kural 497

No aid but daring dash they need When field is chosen right for deed

Kural 498

Though force is small, if place is right One quells a foe of well-armed might

Kural 499

To face a foe at home is vain Though fort and status are not fine

Kural 500

A fox can kill a war tusker Fearless with feet in deep quagmire