Polity (பொருட்பால்) — The Essentials of a State (அரணியல்) — The Fortification (அரண்)

Kural 741:
ஆற்று பவர்க்கும் அரண்பொருள் அஞ்சித்தற்
போற்று பவர்க்கும் பொருள்.
aatru pavarkkum araNporuL anjiththaR
poatru pavarkkum poruL
English couplet:
fort is wealth to those who act against their foes;
Is wealth to them who, fearing, guard themselves from woes.
Explanation: A fort is an object of importance to those who march (against their foes) as well as to those who through fear (of pursuers) would seek it for shelter.

Kural 742:
மணிநீரும் மண்ணும் மலையும் அணிநிழற்
காடும் உடைய தரண்.
maNinheerum maNNum malaiyum aNinhizhaR
kaadum udaiya tharaN
English couplet:
A fort is that which owns fount of waters crystal clear,
An open space, a hill, and shade of beauteous forest near.
Explanation: A fort is that which has everlasting water, plains, mountains and cool shady forests.

Kural 743:
உயர்வகலம் திண்மை அருமைஇந் நான்கின்
அமைவரண் என்றுரைக்கும் நூல்.
uyarvakalam thiNmai arumai-inh naankin
amaivaraN endruraikkum nool
English couplet:
Height, breadth, strength, difficult access:
Science declares a fort must these possess.
Explanation: The learned say that a fortress is an enclosure having these four (qualities) viz., height, breadth, strength and inaccessibility.

Kural 744:
சிறுகாப்பிற் பேரிடத்த தாகி உறுபகை
ஊக்கம் அழிப்ப தரண்.
siRukaappiR paeridaththa thaaki uRupagai
ookkam azhippa tharaN
English couplet:
A fort must need but slight defence, yet ample be,
Defying all the foeman's energy.
Explanation: A fort is that which has an extensive space within, but only small places to be guarded, and such as can destroy the courage of besieging foes.

Kural 745:
கொளற்கரிதாய்க் கொண்டகூழ்த் தாகி அகத்தார்
நிலைக்கெளிதாம் நீரது அரண்.
koLaRkaridhaaik koNtakoozhth thaaki akaththaar
nilaikkeLidhaam neeradhu araN
English couplet:
Impregnable, containing ample stores of food,
A fort for those within, must be a warlike station good.
Explanation: A fort is that which cannot be captured, which abounds in suitable provisions, and affords a position of easy defence to its inmates.

Kural 746:
எல்லாப் பொருளும் உடைத்தாய் இடத்துதவும்
நல்லாள் உடையது அரண்.
ellaap poruLum udaiththaai idaththudhavum
nallaaL udaiyadhu araN
English couplet:
A fort, with all munitions amply stored,
In time of need should good reserves afford.
Explanation: A fort is that which has all (needful) things, and excellent heroes that can help it against destruction (by foes).

Kural 747:
முற்றியும் முற்றா தெறிந்தும் அறைப்படுத்தும்
பற்றற் கரியது அரண்.
mutriyum mutraa theRindhum aRaippatuththum
patraR kariyadhu araN
English couplet:
A fort should be impregnable to foes who gird it round,
Or aim there darts from far, or mine beneath the ground.
Explanation: A fort is that which cannot be captured by blockading, assaulting, or undermining it.

Kural 748:
முற்றாற்றி முற்றி யவரையும் பற்றாற்றிப்
பற்றியார் வெல்வது அரண்.
mutraatri mutri yavaraiyum patraatrip
patriyaar velvadhu araN
English couplet:
Howe'er the circling foe may strive access to win,
A fort should give the victory to those who guard within.
Explanation: That is a fort whose inmates are able to overcome without losing their ground, even abler men who have besieged it.

Kural 749:
முனைமுகத்து மாற்றலர் சாய வினைமுகத்து
வீறெய்தி மாண்ட தரண்.
munaimukaththu maatralar saaya vinaimukaththu
veeReydhi maaNda tharaN
English couplet:
At outset of the strife a fort should foes dismay;
And greatness gain by deeds in every glorious day.
Explanation: A fort is that which derives excellence from the stratagems made (by its inmates) to defeat their enemies in the battlefield.

Kural 750:
எனைமாட்சித் தாகியக் கண்ணும் வினைமாட்சி
இல்லார்கண் இல்லது அரண்.
enaimaatchith thaakiyak kaNNum vinaimaatchi
illaarkaN illadhu araN
English couplet:
Howe'er majestic castled walls may rise,
To craven souls no fortress strength supplies.
Explanation: Although a fort may possess all (the above-said) excellence, it is, as it were without these, if its inmates possess not the excellence of action.