Employing Spies
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viṉaiceyvār tañcuṟṟam vēṇṭātā reṉṟāṅ / kaṉaivaraiyu mārāyva toṟṟu.
“His officers, his friends, his enemies, / All these who watch are trusty spies.”
“The prince shalt set spies to watch closely the officers of the realm, his own kindred, and his enemies.”
A spy is one who investigates all three—the ruler's agents, his own circle, and those opposed to him—through their words and deeds.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தம் வினை செய்வார் சுற்றம் வேண்டாதார் என்ற அனைவரையும் ஆராய்வது= தம் காரியம் செய்வார், சுற்றத்தார், பகைவர் என்று சொல்லப்பட்ட அனைவரையும் சொல், செயல்களான் ஆராய்வானே; ஒற்று= ஒற்றனாவான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
An effective intelligence operative investigates and verifies the speech and conduct of all: executive officials, personal relatives, and known adversaries.