Kural Chronicles

KURAL 758

PORUTPAAL

NATPIYAL

ADHIKAARAM 76: PORUL SEYAL VAGAI – THE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE MONEY

குன்றேறி யானைப்போர் கண்டற்றால் தன்கைத்தொன்று
உண்டாகச் செய்வான் வினை.

Kunraeri yaanaippoar kandatraal thankaithondru

Undaaga cheyvaan vinai

Starting a business with your own money is as safe as watching an elephant fight from the safety of a nearby hill.

Kunru: hillock;  aeri: climb;  Yaanai: elephant; Poar: war; Kandu: seeing; than: your own; kaithondru: capital from hand; Undaaga cheyvaan : make happen; Vinai: action

On to finance with Valluvar!

Starting a business with your own capital is safe; as safe as watching an elephant fight from the comfort and safety of a nearby hillock. The implication here is – starting a business with no money in hand but entirely from loans is as risky as an upfront viewing of a fight between a couple of elephants. It will require a mad dance or a skilled Houdini act to avoid getting trampled.

Try to imagine an elephant fight! Imagine those magnificent beasts facing off! If you can get a bird’s eye view from atop a nearby hillock, it will surely be a spectacle for the ages if you have the stomach for it. Likewise, thrown into the tumultuous world of industry and trade, Valluvar likens starting your business with your own capital to this safe comfortable spectacular viewing. From a position of full ownership, you can move firmly forward without constraints.

Seems totally at odds with today’s practice of preferring loans rather than using your own money as capital. I remember here Mr.Velumani , Founder, Thyrocare, who revealed that he has never taken a loan in his life. Starting with a capital of one lakh he built a company worth 5000 crore. A resounding advocate for Valluvar’s wisdom, it would seem.