Kural #388
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Tamil text
முறைசெய்து காப்பாற்றும் மன்னவன்
மக்கட்கு இறையென்று வைக்கப் படும்
Muṟaiceytu kāppāṟṟum maṉṉavaṉ
Makkaṭku iṟaiyeṉṟu vaikkap paṭum
English translation
A king who rules justly and protects his people will be regarded as God by his subjects.
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Explanation
The highest honor: being considered இறை (God) by one's people. This comes from முறைசெய்து (administering justice) and காப்பாற்றுதல் (protection). Just governance elevates a king to divine status.
விளக்கம்
நீதியோடு ஆட்சி செய்து மக்களைக் காக்கும் மன்னன், மக்களுக்குத் தெய்வமாக மதிக்கப்படுவான். நல்லாட்சி செய்தால், அரசன் இறைவனுக்குச் சமம் என்பது இறைமாட்சி அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து. நேர்மையே மிக உயர்ந்தது.
Word meanings
- முறைmuṟaijustice
- செய்துceytudoing
- காப்பாற்றும்kāppāṟṟumprotecting
- மன்னவன்maṉṉavaṉthe king
- மக்கட்குmakkaṭkufor people
- இறைiṟaiGod
- என்றுeṉṟuas
- வைக்கப்படும்vaikkapppaṭumwill be regarded
Story behind this kural
In a sun-baked village nestled beside a whispering river, lived King Arul. Unlike the kings of old, Arul didn’t hoard riches or demand lavish feasts. Instead, he walked among his people, listening to their woes. A farmer, robbed of his harvest, found justice swiftly. A craftsman, cheated in a trade, received fair compensation. Arul ensured every villager felt safe, their livelihoods protected. He used the royal treasury not for himself, but to mend broken homes and build wells for the thirsty land. One day, a terrible storm swept through the village, leaving devastation in its wake. The people, huddled and afraid, saw King Arul, not in a gilded carriage, but wading through the mud, helping to rebuild their homes. He offered not only aid, but a comforting presence. As the sun set, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, the villagers gathered. They looked at their king, their faces etched with gratitude and a profound sense of security. They knew they were not merely subjects, but a community, cherished and protected.