Choosing People for Responsibilities
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
ceyvāṉai nāṭi viṉaināṭik kālattō / ṭeyta vuṇarntu ceyal.
Examine the doer and the work; then understand how both fit the proper time, and make the assignment only when all three are aligned.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Let king first ask, 'Who shall the deed perform?' and 'What the deed?' / Of hour befitting both assured, let every work proceed.”
“Choose the expert and give him the work for which he is fit: see that the time is ripe for performance and then get him to begin it.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செய்வானை நாடி= முதற்கண்ணே செய்வானது இலக்கணத்தை ஆராய்ந்து; வினை நாடி= பின்செய்யப்படும் வினையினது இயல்பை ஆராய்ந்து; காலத்தோடு எய்த உணர்ந்து செயல்= பின் அவனையும் அதனையும், காலத்தொடு படுத்துப் பொருந்த அறிந்து அவனை அதன்கண் ஆடலைச் செய்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that one should first examine the qualities of the person who will act, then examine the nature of the work. The person and the work must then be considered together with the fitting time; only after recognising that alignment should the person be set to that task.