596. Stopping chooses too

நடக்கும் வழியில் இருளுண்டு நின்றால்கிடக்கும் இருளே வழி

nadakkum vazhiyil irulundu nindraalkidakkum irule vazhi

There is darkness on the path we walk; if we stand still, the darkness itself becomes the path.

At first darkness lies on the path as something in the way; then that same darkness is named the path itself.

597. Reopening settled choices

விதைத்தபின் மண்ணைப் பிளந்துகாண் பான்போல்நிலைத்ததை யெண்ணும் குறை

vidhaithapin mannaip pilandukaan paanpolnilaithadhai yennum kurai

To sow, then split the soil open to look: such is the fault of turning over what has settled.

598. Settling the aim

இருகண் ஒருபொருளே நோக்கும் இருபொருள்நோக்கின் இருகண்ணும் பொய்

irukan oruporule nokkum iruporulnokkin irukannum poy

Two eyes look at one thing only; if they look at two things, both eyes are false.

‘False’ as a lying witness: eyes split between two things give a true account of neither. Tamil ‘thing’ also means aim or purpose.