Time is precious like gold – this is an oft-repeated observation. But a scholar went further and said that time is even more precious than gold. It is as priceless as life itself, he said. If we lose wealth, we can work hard, save a significant portion of our earnings and become wealthy again. But if we lose life, can we regain it? That is why this scholar compared time to life. Time can be divided into past, present and future. The past is like an expired cheque. The present is like cash in your hands. The future should be our focus, for our efforts can lead to a successful future, said R. Narayanan in a discourse.
Determination will help us accomplish many things. We should not miss the proper time to do something. Whatever is done when it should be done, will definitely yield the desired results. Is anything impossible, if done at the proper time, asks Thiruvalluvar. If you decide to do something, and are firm in your resolve, then you will be successful, says another kural (verse).
Whatever we set about doing, must be done with careful planning. Planning helps us save time, because it makes it possible for us to be organised. The Thirukkural sounds a note of caution. Thiruvalluvar says that we must think before we act. It is foolish to be hasty in our actions and then ponder over them later on. It is not wrong to have great aspirations. You can even aspire to rule the world, and achieve this goal too, if you act at the right time and in the right manner.
The stork waits near the river bank, while shoals of small fish swim by. The bird may be hungry, but it does not catch these fish. It waits until a big fish comes by. We should be like the stork, waiting patiently for the right moment, and then act, to reap the maximum benefit.