Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Royalty (அரசியல்) — The Knowledge of Power (வலியறிதல்)

Kural 471:
வினைவலியும் தன்வலியும் மாற்றான் வலியும்
துணைவலியும் தூக்கிச் செயல்.
vinaivaliyum thanvaliyum maatraan valiyum
thuNaivaliyum thookkich seyal
English couplet:
The force the strife demands, the force he owns, the force of foes,
The force of friends; these should he weigh ere to the war he goes.
Explanation: Let (one) weigh well the strength of the deed (he purposes to do), his own strength, the strength of his enemy, and the strength of the allies (of both), and then let him act.

Kural 472:
ஒல்வ தறிவது அறிந்ததன் கண்தங்கிச்
செல்வார்க்குச் செல்லாதது இல்.
olva thaRivadhu aRindhadhan kaNdhangich
selvaarkkuch sellaadhadhu il
English couplet:
Who know what can be wrought, with knowledge of the means, on this,
Their mind firm set, go forth, nought goes with them amiss.
Explanation: There is nothing which may not be accomplished by those who, before they attack (an enemy), make themselves acquainted with their own ability, and with whatever else is (needful) to be known, and apply themselves wholly to their object.

Kural 473:
உடைத்தம் வலியறியார் ஊக்கத்தின் ஊக்கி
இடைக்கண் முரிந்தார் பலர்.
udaiththam valiyaRiyaar ookkaththin ookki
itaikkaN murindhaar palar
English couplet:
Ill-deeming of their proper powers, have many monarchs striven,
And midmost of unequal conflict fallen asunder riven.
Explanation: There are many who, ignorant of their (want of) power (to meet it), have haughtily set out to war, and broken down in the midst of it.

Kural 474:
அமைந்தாங் கொழுகான் அளவறியான் தன்னை
வியந்தான் விரைந்து கெடும்.
amaindhaanG kozhukaan aLavaRiyaan thannai
viyandhaan viraindhu kedum
English couplet:
Who not agrees with those around, no moderation knows,
In self-applause indulging, swift to ruin goes.
Explanation: He will quickly perish who, ignorant of his own resources flatters himself of his greatness, and does not live in peace with his neighbours.

Kural 475:
பீலிபெய் சாகாடும் அச்சிறும் அப்பண்டஞ்
சால மிகுத்துப் பெயின்.
peelipey saakaatum achchiRum appaNtanhj
saala mikuththup peyin
English couplet:
With peacock feathers light, you load the wain;
Yet, heaped too high, the axle snaps in twain.
Explanation: The axle tree of a bandy, loaded only with peacocks' feathers will break, if it be greatly overloaded.

Kural 476:
நுனிக்கொம்பர் ஏறினார் அஃதிறந் தூக்கின்
உயிர்க்கிறுதி ஆகி விடும்.
nunikkompar ERinaar aqdhiRanh thookkin
uyirkkiRudhi aagi vidum
English couplet:
Who daring climbs, and would himself upraise
Beyond the branch's tip, with life the forfeit pays.
Explanation: There will be an end to the life of him who, having climbed out to the end of a branch, ventures to go further.

Kural 477:
ஆற்றின் அறவறிந்து ஈக அதுபொருள்
போற்றி வழங்கு நெறி.
aatrin aRavaRindhu eeka adhuporuL
poatri vazhangu neRi
English couplet:
With knowledge of the measure due, as virtue bids you give!
That is the way to guard your wealth, and seemly live.
Explanation: Let a man know the measure of his ability (to give), and let him give accordingly; such giving is the way to preserve his property.

Kural 478:
ஆகாறு அளவிட்டி தாயினுங் கேடில்லை
போகாறு அகலாக் கடை.
aakaaRu aLavitti thaayinunG kaetillai
poakaaRu akalaak kadai
English couplet:
Incomings may be scant; but yet, no failure there,
If in expenditure you rightly learn to spare.
Explanation: Even though the income (of a king) be small, it will not cause his (ruin), if his outgoings be not larger than his income.

Kural 479:
அளவறிந்து வாழாதான் வாழ்க்கை உளபோல
இல்லாகித் தோன்றாக் கெடும்.
aLavaRinthu vaazhaadhaan vaazhkkai uLapoala
illaakith thoandraak kedum
English couplet:
Who prosperous lives and of enjoyment knows no bound,
His seeming wealth, departing, nowhere shall be found.
Explanation: The prosperity of him who lives without knowing the measure (of his property), will perish, even while it seems to continue.

Kural 480:
உளவரை தூக்காத ஒப்புர வாண்மை
வளவரை வல்லைக் கெடும்.
uLavarai thookkaadha oppura vaaNmai
vaLavarai vallaik kedum
English couplet:
Beneficence that measures not its bound of means,
Will swiftly bring to nought the wealth on which it leans.
Explanation: The measure of his wealth will quickly perish, whose liberality weighs not the measure of his property.