Knowing the Right Time
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pakalvelluṅ kūkaiyaik kākkai yikalvellum / vēntarkku vēṇṭum poḻutu
A crow defeats an owl in daylight; likewise, a ruler who seeks to overcome opposition needs the fitting time.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A crow will conquer owl in broad daylight; / The king that foes would crush, needs fitting time to fight.”
“The crow triumpheth over the owl when it is day: so opportunity is a great thing to the prince who would vanquish his enemy.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கூகையைக் காக்கை பகல்வெல்லும்= தன்னின் வலிதாய கூகையைக் காக்கை பகற்பொழுதின்கண் வெல்லாநிற்கும்; இகல் வெல்லும் வேந்தர்க்கு வேண்டும் பொழுது= அதுபோலப் பகைவரது இகலை வெல்லக் கருதும் அரசர்க்கு அதற்கேற்ற காலம் இன்றியமையாதது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a crow can defeat the stronger owl in daylight; in the same way, a ruler intending to prevail over opposition cannot dispense with the time suited to that action. The analogy concerns situational advantage, not inherent worth, and does not grant moral permission for violence.