THE TIRUKKURAL OF TIRUVALLUVAR

SECTION - 67

VERSES 661 TO 670
    
ô¨éäêÐê¨ìªçëª     Efficiency   in   Action
 
ô¨éäê¨ìªç   âëäªçÊ   øÕô䪠  ëäêÐê¨ìªç몠    661
ë÷ªé÷á   öùªùè몠  ç¨÷
 
ô¨éäê¨ìªç몠      efficiency in performance
öäªçÊ       known as
øÕô䪠      of one
ëäêÐê¨ìªç몠      determination
ë÷ªé÷á    öùªùè몠      all others
ç¨÷       (are) different
 
Efficiency   in   action   comes   from   a   resolute   mind,   and not   from   others   (661).    
Ãâ÷èõèùª   ã÷ª÷ç¨äª   øùªæèéë   ¬ôªô¨õúªï䪠    662
Íâ÷äªçõР  ÍáªåÐêôõР  îæèóª
 
Ã×   Øõèùª       avoiding illconsidered activity
ã÷ª÷ç¨äª       in case of fault in any activity
øùªæèéë       not become despondent
¬ôªô¨õúªï䪠        these two
Í×   öäªçõР    are the paths, it is said
ÍáªåÐêôõР   îæèóª       the opinion of (the knowledgeable)
 
The   two   roads   to   efficiency   are   avoiding   ill-   considered activity,   and   not   becoming   despondent   of   failures   in
tasks   undertaken   (662).      
æéìæÐâæèìªæòР  âòáªêæÐæ   êèúªéë   ¬éìâæèìªæ¨äª       663
ö÷ª÷è   ô¨ÇëåР  êÕëª
 
æéì       in the end
âæèìªæ       (as) to reveal
âòáªêæÐæÊ       do a task in such a way
Íúªéë       is strength
¬éìâæèìªæ¨äª       if known while halfway through
ö÷ª÷è         endless
ô¨Çë몠      difficulty
êÕ몠      bring
 
Strength   lies   in   quiet   performance,   premature   disclosure   will bring   difficulty   (663).    
âòèùªÙêùª   áèõÐæÐÆ몠  öó¨á   íõ¨áôè몠   664
âòèùªù¨á   ôúªú¢ª   âòáùª
 
âòèùªÙêùª       to plan and talk
áèõÐæÐÆ몠      to anyone
öó¨á       easy
íõ¨áôè몠      is difficult
âòèùªù¨á    ôúªú몠      as talked about
âòáùª       to perform
 
To   plan   and   talk   about   a   task   is   easy,   but   difficult it   is   to   accomplish   it   (664).    
ô©â÷áªê¨   ëèúªìèõР  ô¨éäêÐê¨ìªç몠  îôåÐêäªæúª       665
Ãâ÷áªê¨   ãóªó窠  çÌëª
 
ô©×   öáªê¨       successful
ëèúªìèõР      of ministers
ô¨éäêÐê¨ìªç몠      determined effort
îôåÐêäªæúª         of the king
Ã×   öáªê¨       when it reaches
ãóªó窠   çÌ몠      will be hailed
 
He   who   is   reputed   for   efficient   performance   will   earn the   regard   of   the   king   (665).

 
öúªú¨á   öúªú¨á觪   âæáªÊç   öúªú¨áèõР              666
ê¨úªú¨á   õèæ窠  âç÷¨äª
 
öúªú¨á       what one envisages
öúªú¨    ͧªÆ       as planned
öáªÊç       will accomplish
öúªú¨áèõР      in what one wishes to achieve
ê¨úªú¨áõР   Íæ窠  âç÷¨äª       if one is determined
   
They   who   are   resolute   will   accomplish   their   tasks exactly   as   planned   (666).    
ãÕ²æúª   âìóªóèéë   îôúªÌ몠  ãÕóªâçÕåÐîêõÐæР          667
æòÐòèú¨   íäªäè   ÕéìêÐÊ
 
ãÕ²æúªÌ       judging by appearances
öóªóèéë       not be contemptuous ( not to slight)
îôúªÌ몠      should (one)
ãÕóªâçÕ몠   îêõÐæÐÆ       to the rolling huge juggernaut
íòÐà    Íú¨   íäªäèõР      like the axle pin
ãéìêÐÊ       the world sports (such people)
 
Like   the   small   axle   pin   of   the   giant   chariot   wheel,   one   who   is small   in   appearance   may   perform   great   tasks   and   should therefore   not   be   judged   by   appearances   (667).    
æù§ªæèÊ   æúªì   ô¨éúæÐæúª   Êó§ªæèÊ     668
­æÐ槪   æïåÐÊ   âòáùª
 
æù§ªæèÊ       not broken at heart
æúªì       attempted
ô¨éúæÐæúª       task
Êó§ªæèÊ       without fear (distraction)
­æÐæ몠   æïåÐÊ       without delay
âòáùª       one should perform
 
One   should   engage   in   tasks   resolutely   without   distraction or   delay   (668).    
Êäªç   Ë÷ôõ¨Ä¢ª   âòáªæ   Êú¨ôè÷ª÷¨       669
¬äªç몠  çáæÐÆ몠  ô¨éä
 
Êäªç몠      difficulties
ã÷ôõ¨Ä몠      even when dogged by
âòáªæ         perform
Êú¨²    Í÷ª÷¨       with determination
¬äªç몠   çáæÐÆ몠      will produce joy
ô¨éä       the task
 
Even   when   facing   difficulties   in   performing   good   tasks,   they should   be   pursued   resolutely   and   it   will   ultimately   bring   benefit   (669).    
öéäêÐê¨ìªç몠  öáªê¨áæР  æúªÑ몠  ô¨éäêÐê¨ìªç몠      670
îôúªìèéõ   îôúªìè   ÊùÆ
 
öéäêÐê¨ìªç몠      whatever other talents
öáªê¨áæР   æúªÑ몠      one may possess
ô¨éäêÐê¨ìªç몠      resoluteness in action
îôúªìèéõ       one who does not have
îôúªìèÊ       will not favour
ãùÆ       the world
 
Whatever   their   other   talents,   he   who   is   not   resolute   in   action will   not   be   respected   by   society   (670).

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