Thirukkural 744 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
சிறுகாப்பிற் பேரிடத்த தாகி உறுபகை
ஊக்கம் அழிப்ப தரண்.
Transliteration
Sirukaappir Peritaththa Thaaki Urupakai
Ookkam Azhippa Tharan
Modern English
“A good fort protects a small area while providing broad space inside and making attackers lose confidence.”
Modern Interpretation
A good fort protects a small area while providing broad space inside and making attackers lose confidence. An emergency base works best when its vital rooms are easy to guard and its layout gives a threatening intruder no advantage.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A good fort protects a small area while providing broad space inside and making attackers lose confidence.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Ample in space, easy to hold The fort foils enemies bold
G.U. Pope Translation
A fort must need but slight defence, yet ample be,Defying all the foeman's energy
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
A fort is that which has an extensive space within, but only small places to be guarded, and such as can destroy the courage of besieging foes
Tamil commentary
காவல் செய்யவேண்டிய இடம் சிறியதாயும், கோட்டையின் சுற்றுப் பெரியதாயும், சண்டையிட வரும் பகைவர்க்கு மலைப்பைத் தருவதாயும் அமைவது அரண்.
Chapter 75
More from The Fortification
அரண்
The fort is vital for offence Who fear the foes has its defence
Kural 742A crystal fount, a space a mount Thick woods form a fort paramount
Kural 743An ideal fort's so says science: High, broad, strong and hard for access
Kural 744Ample in space, easy to hold The fort foils enemies bold
Kural 745Impregnable with stores of food Cosy to live-That fort is good
Kural 746A fort is full of stores and arms And brave heroes to meet alarms
Kural 747Besieging foes a fort withstands Darts and mines of treacherous hands
Kural 748A fort holds itself and defies The attacks of encircling foes
Kural 749A fort it is that fells the foes And gains by deeds a name glorious
Kural 750But a fort however grand Is nil if heroes do not stand