सुमन्त्रितं सुविक्रान्तं सुयुद्धं सुपलायितम् । कार्य-काले यथा-शक्ति कुर्यान्न तु विचारयेत् ॥
sumantritaṃ suvikrāntaṃ suyuddhaṃ supalāyitam | kārya-kāle yathā-śakti kuryānna tu vicārayet ||
Well planned, well dared, well fought, well retreated: when the time for action comes, one should do what one can, as far as one is able, and not stop to deliberate.
अच्छी मंत्रणा, अच्छा पराक्रम, अच्छा युद्ध और अच्छी तरह पीछे हटना: काम का समय आने पर यथाशक्ति जो करना हो करे, तब सोच-विचार में न पड़े।
Meaning today and contextआज के लिए अर्थ और संदर्भ
Deliberate beforehand; in the moment, act. And knowing when to withdraw in good order is as much a skill as knowing when to push forward.
सोच-विचार पहले करें; समय आने पर काम करें। और सही समय पर व्यवस्थित ढंग से पीछे हटना भी उतना ही बड़ा कौशल है जितना आगे बढ़ना।
In Book 3 (Vigraha), crows planted inside set fire to the swan king's fort; hearing "the fort is taken!", many of his soldiers flee into the lake. The narrator explains why.