Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Ministers of State (அமைச்சியல்) — The Knowledge of Indications (குறிப்பறிதல்)

Kural 701:
கூறாமை நோக்கக் குறிப்பறிவான் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
மாறாநீர் வையக் கணி.
kooRaamai noakkak kuRippaRivaan eGnGnaandrum
maaRaanheer vaiyak kaNi
English couplet:
Who knows the sign, and reads unuttered thought, the gem is he,
Of earth round traversed by the changeless sea.
Explanation: The minister who by looking (at the king) understands his mind without being told (of it), will be a perpetual ornament to the world which is surrounded by a never-drying sea.

Kural 702:
ஐயப் படாஅது அகத்தது உணர்வானைத்
தெய்வத்தோ டொப்பக் கொளல்.
aiyap padaaadhu akaththadhu uNarvaanaith
theyvaththoa toppak koLal
English couplet:
Undoubting, who the minds of men can scan,
As deity regard that gifted man.
Explanation: He is to be esteemed a god who is able to ascertain without a doubt what is within (one's mind).

Kural 703:
குறிப்பிற் குறிப்புணர் வாரை உறுப்பினுள்
யாது கொடுத்தும் கொளல்.
kuRippiR kuRippuNar vaarai uRuppinuL
yaadhu koduththum koLal
English couplet:
Who by the sign the signs interprets plain,
Give any member up his aid to gain.
Explanation: The king should ever give whatever (is asked) of his belongings and secure him who, by the indications (of his own mind) is able to read those of another.

Kural 704:
குறித்தது கூறாமைக் கொள்வாரோ டேனை
உறுப்போ ரனையரால் வேறு.
kuRiththadhu kooRaamaik koLvaaroa taenai
uRuppoa ranaiyaraal vaeRu
English couplet:
Who reads what's shown by signs, though words unspoken be,
In form may seem as other men, in function nobler far is he.
Explanation: Those who understand one's thoughts without being informed (thereof) and those who do not, may (indeed) resemble one another bodily; still are they different (mentally).

Kural 705:
குறிப்பிற் குறிப்புணரா வாயின் உறுப்பினுள்
என்ன பயத்தவோ கண்.
kuRippiR kuRippuNaraa vaayin uRuppinuL
enna payaththavoa kaN
English couplet:
By sign who knows not sings to comprehend, what gain,
'Mid all his members, from his eyes does he obtain?.
Explanation: Of what use are the eyes amongst one's members, if they cannot by their own indications dive those of another ?.

Kural 706:
அடுத்தது காட்டும் பளிங்குபோல் நெஞ்சம்
கடுத்தது காட்டும் முகம்.
atuththadhu kaattum paLingupoal nenjam
katuththadhu kaattum mugam
English couplet:
As forms around in crystal mirrored clear we find,
The face will show what's throbbing in the mind.
Explanation: As the mirror reflects what is near so does the face show what is uppermost in the mind.

Kural 707:
முகத்தின் முதுக்குறைந்தது உண்டோ உவப்பினும்
காயினும் தான்முந் துறும்.
mukaththin mudhukkuRaindhadhu undoa uvappinum
kaayinum thaanmunh thuRum
English couplet:
Than speaking countenance hath aught more prescient skill?
Rejoice or burn with rage, 'tis the first herald still!.
Explanation: Is there anything so full of knowledge as the face ? (No.) it precedes the mind, whether (the latter is) pleased or vexed.

Kural 708:
முகம்நோக்கி நிற்க அமையும் அகம்நோக்கி
உற்ற துணர்வார்ப் பெறின்.
mukamnhoakki niRka amaiyum agamnhoakki
utra thuNarvaarp peRin
English couplet:
To see the face is quite enough, in presence brought,
When men can look within and know the lurking thought.
Explanation: If the king gets those who by looking into his mind can understand (and remove) what has occurred (to him) it is enough that he stand looking at their face.

Kural 709:
பகைமையும் கேண்மையும் கண்ணுரைக்கும் கண்ணின்
வகைமை உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்.
pakaimaiyum kaeNmaiyum kaNNuraikkum kaNNin
vakaimai uNarvaarp peRin
English couplet:
The eye speaks out the hate or friendly soul of man;
To those who know the eye's swift varying moods to scan.
Explanation: If a king gets ministers who can read the movements of the eye, the eyes (of foreign kings) will (themselves) reveal (to him) their hatred or friendship.

Kural 710:
நுண்ணியம் என்பார் அளக்குங்கோல் காணுங்கால்
கண்ணல்லது இல்லை பிற.
nuNNiyam enpaar aLakkungoal kaaNungaal
kaNNalladhu illai piRa
English couplet:
The men of keen discerning soul no other test apply
(When you their secret ask) than man's revealing eye.
Explanation: The measuring-rod of those (ministers) who say "we are acute" will on inquiry be found to be their (own) eyes and nothing else.