Knowing the Right Place
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toṭaṅkaṟka vevviṉaiyu meḷḷaṟka muṟṟu / miṭaṅkaṇṭa piṉṉal latu
“Begin no work of war, depise no foe, / Till place where you can wholly circumvent you know.”
“Provoke no war and begin no operation except after making a thorough reconnaissance of the theatre of operations.”
Begin no undertaking against an opponent, and do not despise them, until the place for bringing the action to completion has been found.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
முற்றும் இடம் கண்டபின் அல்லது= பகைவரை முற்றுதற்கு ஆவதோர் இடம் பெற்றபின் அல்லது; எவ்வினையும் தொடங்கற்க= அவர்மாட்டு யாதொரு வினையும் தொடங்காது ஒழிக; எள்ளற்க= அவரைச் சிறியர் என்று இகழாது ஒழிக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Do not launch any action against adversaries, nor treat them with contempt as weak, until you have secured the decisive place from which they can be completely overcome.