Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 78 : Military Spirit
 

Introductory Note

"In war, three quarters turns on personal character and relations; the balance of manpower and materials counts only for the remaining quarter."
- Napoleon I

Translation(s)

You foes! Stand not before my lord! For many a one who did withstand my lord, now stands in stone!

Explanation

The couplet captures the spirit of soldier who has a high loyalty and high morale.

Rev. Pope notes that the translation is doubtful as the words could mean either ‘my leader’ or ‘me’.

“Of the love or hatred God has for the English, I know nothing, but I do know that they will all be thrown out of France, except those who die there.”
- Joan of Arc, French peasant girl who saved the kingdom of France from English domination. National heroine of France (1412-1431)

Translation(s)

One who aims at elephant has greater praise though dart should fail; than he who slays woodland hare with winged arrow.

Explanation

To fail in a great fight is more praise worthy than to defeat a helpless & weak enemy.

Translation(s)

Heroic greatness shows fierceness in hour of strife; its edge is kindness to our suffering foes.

Explanation

Thiru-valluvar here propounds the moral of kindness towards defeated enemy’s soldiers who were injured in war.

Compare Aen. vi. 853

Translation(s)

He hurls the dart in hand at elephant (and when) pressed for (finding a) weapon he laughs and plucks the javelin from his wounded breast.

Explanation

This is the picture of a brave, daring, and bold soldier. He does not fear the elephant and throws his dart at him knowing that it will not kill the elephant which in turn will attack him. He is not broken by his injuries but playfully pulls out a javelin from his wounded breast to fight on.

Translation(s)

If he but wink his eye when foeman hurls his spear, to fearless hero it must not appear as defeat.

Explanation

Heroic soldier should not feel defeated if he is wounded in the war by enemy soldier.

Translation(s)

The heroes, in counting their days, set down as vain (unsuccessful or useless) each day when they did not sustain any glorious wound.

Explanation

Being wounded in war is a matter of pride. And the day hero came back without a wound is wasted.

"I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in face."
- Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, 1940

Translation(s)

Those who seek world-wide fame regardless of their life, the glorious clasp adorns (them) – a sign of heroic strife.

Explanation

Not clear to me. Rev Pope says it is a kind of Bahu-vrihi compound.

Translation(s)

Fearless they rush wherever ‘the tide of battle rolls,’ and king’s reproof (reprimand not to fight so rashly) damps not the ardor of their eager souls.

 

Translation(s)

Does anyone say that they erred and visits them with scorn those who die and faithful guarded the vow they have sworn?

Explanation

Everyone respects the soldier, who guarding his vow to defend till death, lays down his life.

Rev Pope says: Compare my Ind. Hist. p. 86, 3rd ed.

Translation(s)

If monarch’s eyes overflow with tears for heroes slain, who would not beg to gain such boon of glorious death?

 

Summary Note

Rev. G U Pope says: “The author understood the feelings of a soldier. Madras Sepoys have, by their bravery, illustrated these two chapters. They need good leaders, 770.”

Incidentally, horse is not mentioned as a participant in war though elephant is (Ch-60/Verse-597). Sword is also not mentioned as a weapon though arrow (Ch-60/Verse-597) and spear or javelin are.

Thiruvalluvar Statue
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, UK
Credit: Fermello78, Flickr

References