Choosing People for Responsibilities
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itaṉai yitaṉā livaṉmuṭikku meṉṟāyn / tataṉai yavaṉkaṇ viṭal.
Examine and decide, ‘This person can complete this work by this means’; then leave that work in the person’s charge.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'This man, this work shall thus work out,' let thoughtful king command; / Then leave the matter wholly in his servant's hand.”
“Determine first the capacity of the servant and the work for which he is fit: and then leave him in responsible charge of the same.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இதனை இதனால் இவன் முடிக்கும் என்று ஆய்ந்து= இவ்வினையை இக்கருவியால் இவன் முடிக்கவல்லன் எனக் கூறுபடுத்து ஆராய்ந்து; அதனை அவன்கண் விடல்= மூன்றும் தம்முள் இயைந்தவழி அவ்வினையை அவன்கண்ணே விடுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the person, the particular work, and the means must be considered together: one should determine that this person is able to complete this work by this means. When all three are found to fit one another, the work should be left in that person’s charge.