Wealth

Poem : 491

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.

Poem : 492

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.

Poem : 493

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.

Poem : 494

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.

Poem : 495

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.

Poem : 496

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.

Poem : 497

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.

Poem : 498

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.

Poem : 499

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.

Poem : 500

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.