Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Royalty (அரசியல்) — Knowing the Place (இடனறிதல்)

Kural 491:
தொடங்கற்க எவ்வினையும் எள்ளற்க முற்றும்
இடங்கண்ட பின்அல் லது.
thotangaRka evvinaiyum eLLaRka mutrum
itangaNda pin-al ladhu
English couplet:
Begin no work of war, depise no foe,
Till place where you can wholly circumvent you know.
Explanation: Let not (a king) despise (an enemy), nor undertake any thing (against him), until he has obtained (a suitable) place for besieging him.

Kural 492:
முரண்சேர்ந்த மொய்ம்பி னவர்க்கும் அரண்சேர்ந்தாம்
ஆக்கம் பலவுந் தரும்.
muraNsaerndha moimpi navarkkum araNsaerndhaam
aakkam palavunh tharum
English couplet:
Though skill in war combine with courage tried on battle-field,
The added gain of fort doth great advantage yield.
Explanation: Even to those who are men of power and expedients, an attack in connection with a fortification will yield many advantages.

Kural 493:
ஆற்றாரும் ஆற்றி அடுப இடனறிந்து
போற்றார்கண் போற்றிச் செயின்.
aatraarum aatri adupa idanaRindhu
poatraarkaN poatrich seyin
English couplet:
E'en weak ones mightily prevail, if place of strong defence,
They find, protect themselves, and work their foes offence.
Explanation: Even the powerless will become powerful and conquer, if they select a proper field (of action), and guard themselves, while they make war on their enemies.

Kural 494:
எண்ணியார் எண்ணம் இழப்பர் இடனறிந்து
துன்னியார் துன்னிச் செயின்.
eNNiyaar eNNam izhappar idanaRindhu
thunniyaar thunnich seyin
English couplet:
The foes who thought to triumph, find their thoughts were vain,
If hosts advance, seize vantage ground, and thence the fight maintain.
Explanation: If they who draw near (to fight) choose a suitable place to approach (their enemy), the latter, will have to relinquish the thought which they once entertained, of conquering them.

Kural 495:
நெடும்புனலுள் வெல்லும் முதலை அடும்புனலின்
நீங்கின் அதனைப் பிற.
nedumpunaluL vellum mudhalai atumpunalin
neengin adhanaip piRa
English couplet:
The crocodile prevails in its own flow of water wide,
If this it leaves, 'tis slain by anything beside.
Explanation: In deep water, a crocodile will conquer (all other animals); but if it leave the water, other animals will conquer it.

Kural 496:
கடலோடா கால்வல் நெடுந்தேர் கடலோடும்
நாவாயும் ஓடா நிலத்து.
kadaloataa kaalval nedundhaer kadaloadum
naavaayum Odaa nilaththu
English couplet:
The lofty car, with mighty wheel, sails not o'er watery main,
The boat that skims the sea, runs not on earth's hard plain.
Explanation: Wide chariots, with mighty wheels, will not run on the ocean; neither will ships that the traverse ocean, move on the earth.

Kural 497:
அஞ்சாமை அல்லால் துணைவேண்டா எஞ்சாமை
எண்ணி இடத்தால் செயின்.
anjaamai allaal thuNaivaeNdaa enjaamai
eNNi idaththaal seyin
English couplet:
Save their own fearless might they need no other aid,
If in right place they fight, all due provision made.
Explanation: You will need no other aid than fearlessness, if you thoroughly reflect (on what you are to do), and select (a suitable) place for your operations.

Kural 498:
சிறுபடையான் செல்லிடம் சேரின் உறுபடையான்
ஊக்கம் அழிந்து விடும்.
siRupadaiyaan sellidam saerin urupadaiyaan
ookkam azhindhu vidum
English couplet:
If lord of army vast the safe retreat assail
Of him whose host is small, his mightiest efforts fail.
Explanation: The power of one who has a large army will perish, if he goes into ground where only a small army can act.

Kural 499:
சிறைநலனும் சீரும் இலரெனினும் மாந்தர்
உறைநிலத்தோடு ஒட்டல் அரிது.
siRainhalanum seerum ilareninum maandhar
uRainhilaththoadu ottal aridhu
English couplet:
Though fort be none, and store of wealth they lack,
'Tis hard a people's homesteads to attack!.
Explanation: It is a hazardous thing to attack men in their own country, although they may neither have power nor a good fortress.

Kural 500:
காலாழ் களரில் நரியடும் கண்ணஞ்சா
வேலாள் முகத்த களிறு.
kaalaazh kaLaril nariyatum kaNNanjaa
vaelaaL mukaththa kaLiRu
English couplet:
The jackal slays, in miry paths of foot-betraying fen,
The elephant of fearless eye and tusks transfixing armed men.
Explanation: A fox can kill a fearless, warrior-faced elephant, if it go into mud in which its legs sink down.