Employing Spies
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oṟṟiṉā ṉoṟṟip poruṭeriyā maṉṉavaṉ / koṟṟaṅ koḷakkiṭanta til.
“By spies who spies, not weighing things they bring, / Nothing can victory give to that unwary king.”
“Behold the prince that learneth not the happenings about him by means of scouts and spies: conquests are not for him.”
A king who gathers reports through spies but does not examine their meaning and consequence has no other path by which to attain victory.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒற்றினான் ஒற்றிப் பொருள் தெரியா மன்னவன்= ஒற்றினானே எல்லார்கண்ணும் நிகழ்ந்தவற்றை ஒற்றுவித்து அவற்றான் எய்தும் பயனை ஆராயாத அரசன்; கொற்றம் கொளக்கிடந்தது இல்= வென்றியடையக் கிடந்தது வேறொரு நெறியில்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A ruler who gathers intelligence through spies but fails to analyze its strategic meaning has no available path to victory.