Thirukkural 631 in English

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

Tamil original

கருவியும் காலமும் செய்கையும் செய்யும்
அருவினையும் மாண்டது அமைச்சு.

Transliteration

Karuviyum Kaalamum Seykaiyum Seyyum
Aruvinaiyum Maantadhu Amaichchu

English Translation

“He is minister who chooses Right means, time, mode and rare ventures”

Plain-English meaning

The minister is one who can make an excellent choice of means, time, manner of execution, and the difficult undertaking (itself)

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

He is minister who chooses Right means, time, mode and rare ventures

G.U. Pope Translation

A minister is he who grasps, with wisdom large,Means, time, work's mode, and functions rare he must discharge

Plain-English Meaning

The minister is one who can make an excellent choice of means, time, manner of execution, and the difficult undertaking (itself)

ஒரு செயலைச் செய்யத் தேவையான பொருள்கள், செய்வதற்கு ஏற்ற காலம், செய்யும் முறை, செய்யும் செயல் ஆகிய அனைத்திலும் நன்மை விளையும்படி எண்ணுபவரே அமைச்சர்.

Chapter 64

அமைச்சு

He is minister who chooses Right means, time, mode and rare ventures

With these he guards people, -by his Knowledge, firmness and manliness

A minister cherishes friends Divides foes and the parted blends

A minister must sift reflect Select and say surely one fact

Have him for help who virtue knows Right wisdom speaks, ever apt in acts

Which subtler brain can stand before The keen in brain with learned love?

Albeit you know to act from books Act after knowing world's outlooks

The man in place must tell the facts Though the ignorant king refutes

Seventy crores of foes are better Than a minister with mind bitter

The unresolved, though well designed To fulfil an act they have no mind