Choosing People for Responsibilities
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ceyvāṉai nāṭi viṉaināṭik kālattō / ṭeyta vuṇarntu ceyal.
“Let king first ask, 'Who shall the deed perform?' and 'What the deed?' / Of hour befitting both assured, let every work proceed.”
“Choose the expert and give him the work for which he is fit: see that the time is ripe for performance and then get him to begin it.”
Examine the doer and the work; then understand how both fit the proper time, and make the assignment only when all three are aligned.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செய்வானை நாடி= முதற்கண்ணே செய்வானது இலக்கணத்தை ஆராய்ந்து; வினை நாடி= பின்செய்யப்படும் வினையினது இயல்பை ஆராய்ந்து; காலத்தோடு எய்த உணர்ந்து செயல்= பின் அவனையும் அதனையும், காலத்தொடு படுத்துப் பொருந்த அறிந்து அவனை அதன்கண் ஆடலைச் செய்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Evaluate the capability of the doer, analyze the nature of the task, align both with the opportune time, and only then proceed with execution.