Tirukkural Chapter 75 - Couplets 7,8,9,10

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL அதிகாரம் 75 - அரண் CHAPTER 75 - ON FORTRESS *** 75/07. முற்றியும் முற்றாது எறிந்தும் அறைப்படுத்தும் பற்றற்கு அரியது அரண். 75/07. Mutrriyum mutrraadhu errindhum arraippaduththum Patrrkku ariyadhu arann. 75/07. Enemies are surrounding the fortress, or fighting on one side, an underground bunker will safeguard every materials. *** Muralidhar: Inside the fortress an underground bunker or passage Also will safeguard men and materials. Janak: Inside fort underground passages Function as escape routes In case the fort falls Into the hands of enemies. For bringing food materials These secret passages Serve useful purpose To meet the local demands. A mini-township runs, Inside a safe fortress, Like an army barracks With well trained soldiers. *** 75/08. முற்றாற்றி முற்றி யவரையும் பற்றாற்றிப் பற்றியார் வெல்வது அரண். 75/08. Mutrraatrri mutrri yavaraiyum patrraatrrip Patrriyaar velvadhu arann. 75/08.The purpose of the fortress is to protect the soldiers who are hiding inside the same for fear of a big army attack. *** Muralidhar: A fortress is meant to protect soldiers' lives. Janak: A fortress must safeguard Lives of soldiers hiding inside, For fear of attacking armies Who're in large numbers. It must be a strong fortress Built of heavy rocks To withstand enemies' attacks Coming from all the sides. With the system of airborne Fights now going on, These forts serve the purpose Of army barracks or cantonments. *** 75/09. முனைமுகத்து மாற்றலர் சாய வினைமுகத்து வீறெய்தி மாண்டது அரண். 75/09. Munaimughaththu maatrralar saaya vinaimughaththu Veerraidhi maanndathu arann. 75/09. The fortress must be so strong that the inmates must be able to fight and throw away the besieging armies and gain all benefits. *** Muralidhar: The fortress must be strong enough To protect the inmates and fight the enemies outside. Janak: The purpose of a fortress is To safeguard lives and properties And also fight the enemies From inside the fortress. The enemies are in tents, With their fighting plans, While inside the fortress They have their strategic plans The tents of enemies can burn From the fire balls thrown From the fortress guns, So, they're in a weak position. The enemies can throw big stones From their stone throwers That can break the heads Of soldiers on the fortress side. *** 75/10. எனைமாட்சித்து ஆகியக் கண்ணும் வினைமாட்சி இல்லார்கண் இல்லது அரண். 75/10. Enaimaatchiththu aaghiyak kannum vinaimaatchi Illaarkann illadhu arann. 75/10. In all the previous couplets the need for a strong fortress was stressed, But if it is in the hand of a weak King, who can't fight, the fortress is of no use. *** Muralidhar: Finally the poet says that a strong fortress In the hands of a weak king is useless. Janak: What he says is correct. If a King can't fight In spite of all these facilities There is no use of a fortress. There is no use of the fortress, That is taken over by enemies, As the weak King has lost it In the normal course of his fight. Any present day fortress Serves a limited purpose Of housing some soldiers And used as military barracks. ***