Knowing the Right Place
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añcāmai yallāṟ ṟuṇaivēṇṭā veñcāmai / yeṇṇi yiṭattāṟ ceyiṉ
If rulers consider every requirement without omission and act in a place fitted to them, they need no support other than fearlessness.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Save their own fearless might they need no other aid, / If in right place they fight, all due provision made.”
“Behold the prince that hath planned everything beforehand and striketh at the proper objective: he wanteth no other ally than his own valour.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
எஞ்சாமை எண்ணி இடத்தான் செயின்= பகையிடத்து வினைசெய்யும் திறங்களை எல்லாம் ஒழியாது எண்ணி அவற்றை அரசர் இடத்தொடு பொருந்தச் செய்வராயின்; அஞ்சாமை அல்லால் துணை வேண்டா= அச்செயற்குத் தம் திண்மையல்லது பிறிதொரு துணை வேண்டுவதில்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar makes exhaustive preparation and fit of place the condition for the claim that courage is the only further aid required. The statement is royal-military compression, not advice to reject allies, expertise, consent, care, or contingency planning; fearlessness must not become recklessness, coercion, or silence about danger.