The Kural

the right way about: all his labour will be a waste even if numbers come to his aid.

Even in doing good thou mayest err, it thou suit not the benefit to the character of him that receiveth.

Let the thing that thou decidest on be above reproach: for the world despiseth the man who stoopeth to a thing that is beneath himself.

XLVIII

Judging of Strength

471. Weigh justly the difficulty of the enterprise, thy own strength and the strength of thy enemy, and the strength also of your22 allies; and then enter thou upon it.

472. Behold the prince who knoweth his own force and hath learned what he ought to learn, and who oversteppeth not the limits his force and information: his invasions will never fail.

473. Many there have been who in the sanguineness of their hearts overestimated their strength and adventured, but were cut off in the middle.

474. Behold the men who know not to live in peace, who know not their own measure and who are full of self-conceit: they will have a swift end.

475. Put too many of them and even peacock’s feathers would break the wagon’s axle.23

476. Those that have climbed to the top of the tree will lose their lives if they attempt to climb still higher.24

477. Keep thou in mind the extent of thy wealth and let thy gifts be commensurate therewith: that is the way to conserve and divide thy substance.

478. It mattereth not if the feeder channel25 is strait, provided that the draining channel26 is not wider.

479. Behold the man that taketh not account of his measure nor liveth within the bounds thereof: he may look like prospering, but he will perish leaving no trace behind.

480. Behold the man that measureth not his wealth and lavisheth it with an unsparing hand: his substance will quickly come to nought.

XLIX

Judging the Opportune Moment

481. The crow triumpheth over the owl when it is day: so opportunity is a great thing to the prince who would vanquish his enemy.

482. To follow closely on the pace of Time: that is the cord that will bind Fortune to thee firmly.

483. Where is the thing called impossible if thou start on thy enterprise with a knowledge of the right season and employ the proper means?

484. Thou canst conquer even the whole world if thou choose the proper time and the proper objectives.

485. Those that are intent on conquests will be quietly watching their opportunity: they will know neither confusion nor hurry.

486. The ram steppeth back before it delivereth the crushing blow: even such is the inaction of the man of energy.

487. The wise show not their anger on the spot: they will nurse it within their hearts and wait for their opportunity.

488. Bend down before thy adversaries till the day of their decline: when that day is come thou mayest easily throw them down headlong.

489. When thou hast got an unusual chance, hesitate not but straightway attempt even the impossible.

490. When the time is against thee feign inaction like the stork: but when the tide is on, strike with the swiftness of its souse.

L

Judging of Place

491. Provoke no war and begin no operation except after making a thorough reconnaissance of the theatre of operations.

492. It is an immense advantage even to the powerful and the strong to be based on fortified places.

493. Even the weak can hold their own and triumph over a powerful foe if they choose the proper theatre and operate cautiously.

494. The plans of thy adversaries will be baffled if thou fall back on strong positions and base thyself on them.

495. All-powerful is the crocodile in deep water: but out of it, it is the plaything of its foes.

496. The strong-wheeled chariot runneth not on the sea: nor saileth the oceangoing ship on dry land.

497. Behold the prince that hath planned everything beforehand and striketh at the proper objective: he wanteth no other ally than his own valour.

498. If the prince whose army is weak only betaketh himself to a proper theatre of war, all the endeavours of his strong foe would be vain against him.

499. Even if they have no proper defences and other advantages it is hard to beat a people on their own soil.

500. Behold the high-mettled elephant that hath faced without wincing a whole multitude of lancers: even a jackal will triumph over him when he is entangled in marshy ground.

LI

Testing of Men for Confidence

501. Love of the right, gold, pleasure, and fear of life, these four are the tests of a man: give thy confidence therefore to men that satisfy all these tests.27

502. Behold the man who is born of a good family, who is free from faults and who dreadeth disgrace: he is the man for thee.

503. Even men of rare learning and of pure hearts will not be found, when thou dost test them, to be absolutely exempt from all ignorance.

504. Weigh a man’s good and weigh his evil: whichever is more, take that to be his nature.

505. Dost thou want to find out whether a man is noble or little-minded? Know that conduct is the touchstone of character.

506. Beware of trusting men that have no kindred: for their hearts will be without attachment and they will be callous to shame.

507. If thou choose a fool for thy confidential adviser because that thou lovest him, he will lead thee to endless follies.

508. Behold the man that trusteth another without trying him: he createth endless evils even unto his posterity.

509. Trust not a man without trying him: and after trying your men, give each of them the work for which he is fit.

510. To trust a man whom thou hast not tried and to suspect a man whom thou hast found worthy lead alike to endless ills.

LII

Testing and Employment of Men

511. Behold the man that seeth the good and seeth the evil also and chooseth only that which is good: employ thou him in thy service.

512. Behold the man that is able to develop the resources of