Knowing the Right Place
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toṭaṅkaṟka vevviṉaiyu meḷḷaṟka muṟṟu / miṭaṅkaṇṭa piṉṉal latu
Begin no undertaking against an opponent, and do not despise them, until the place for bringing the action to completion has been found.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Begin no work of war, depise no foe, / Till place where you can wholly circumvent you know.”
“Provoke no war and begin no operation except after making a thorough reconnaissance of the theatre of operations.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
முற்றும் இடம் கண்டபின் அல்லது= பகைவரை முற்றுதற்கு ஆவதோர் இடம் பெற்றபின் அல்லது; எவ்வினையும் தொடங்கற்க= அவர்மாட்டு யாதொரு வினையும் தொடங்காது ஒழிக; எள்ளற்க= அவரைச் சிறியர் என்று இகழாது ஒழிக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar reads the verse within royal conflict: neither begin action against an opponent nor dismiss that opponent as small before finding the position from which the objective can be completed. The counsel is restraint and situational judgment, not permission for aggression; modern use also requires lawful authority, necessity, civilian protection, and nonviolent alternatives.