Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 50 : Knowing the Place
 

Translation(s)

Begin no work of war or despise any foe, till you know a place where you can wholly circumvent (the enemy or foe).

 

Translation(s)

Though skill in war combines with courage tried in battlefield, yet the added gain of fort does yield a great advantage.

Explanation

Having a fort is important.

Translation(s)

Even weak ones; if they find place of strong defense, protect themselves, and t give offence to their foes; prevail mightily.

 

Translation(s)

The foes who thought to triumph, find that their thoughts were vain; if hosts advance, seize vantage ground, and from there maintain fight.

 

Translation(s)

The crocodile prevails in its flow of wide water. If it leaves, it is slain by anything beside.

Explanation

The chapter addresses one aspect of war strategy. Have a fort, find a vantage point to attack, remain in your own area and fight, begin when you know how to circumvent the enemy if that becomes inescapable, ……

Translation(s)

The lofty car with mighty wheel does not sail over the main waterway; the boat that skims the sea does not run on earth’s hard plain.

Explanation

Every instrument will not in every place. Find the place which is suited for you to fight.

Translation(s)

If they fight in right place with all due provisions made; except their own fearless might, they need no other aid.

Explanation

Reminds us of the defeat of Napoleon and Hitler in Russian snow.

Translation(s)

If lord of mighty army assails the safe retreat of him whose host is small, his mightiest efforts fail.

Explanation

If you assail the safe retreat of even a small enemy, you cannot conquer him. The small enemy is strong in his safe retreat.

Translation(s)

It is hard to attack a people's homesteads though there be no fort and they lack a store of wealth.

Explanation

This has to do with the degree of familiarity people have with their homestead as also the vigor with which they will defend their homestead as wife & children will be in it.

Translation(s)

In miry paths of foot-betraying fen, the jackal slays the elephant who has fearless eye and tusk which transfix armed men.

Explanation

This is an illustration of the previous couplet. The elephant in wild is so powerful that even armed men are transfixed by seeing him. In mire, the weak and unarmed jackal can also slay him because the jackal is in his home turf and the elephant out of his.

Summary Note

This chapter brings out the importance of place in war. It is on the art of war.

The Face - Closeup,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari,India
Credit: Kris Kumar, Flickr

References