The Councillor of State
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karuviyuṅ kālamuñ ceykaiyuñ ceyyu / maruviṉaiyu māṇṭa tamaiccu.
“A minister is he who grasps, with wisdom large, / Means, time, work's mode, and functions rare he must discharge.”
“Behold the man who judgeth aright the ways and means of achieving great enterprises and the proper season to commence them: he is the proper man for the Council.”
A true minister can judge together the means, the fitting time, the method, and the difficult undertaking to be carried out.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கருவியும்= வினைசெய்யுங்கால் அதற்கு வேண்டுங் கருவிகளும்; காலமும்= அதற்கேற்ற காலமும்; செய்கையும்= அது செய்யுமாறும்; செய்யும் அருவினையும்= அவ்வாற்றிற் செய்யப்படும் அவ்வரிய வினைதானும்; மாண்டது அமைச்சு= வாய்ப்ப எண்ணவல்லவனே அமைச்சனாவான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
One who excels in discerning the required resources, the opportune time, the method of execution, and the rare challenging deed is an accomplished minister.