Kural #390
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Tamil text
கொடையளி செங்கோல் குடியோம்பல் நான்கும்
உடையானாம் வேந்தர்க்கு ஒளி
Koṭaiyaḷi ceṅkōl kuṭiyōmpal nāṉkum
Uṭaiyāṉām vēntarkku oḷi
English translation
Generosity, compassion, justice, and protecting subjects - one who has all four is the light among kings.
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Explanation
The chapter concludes with four crowning virtues: கொடை (generosity), அளி (compassion), செங்கோல் (just scepter/justice), குடியோம்பல் (cherishing subjects). Such a king is ஒளி (light/radiance) among rulers.
விளக்கம்
இக்குறள், நல்ல அரசன் எப்படி இருக்க வேண்டும் என்கிறது. கொடை, கருணை, நீதி, மக்களைக் காத்தல் - இவை நான்கும் உள்ள அரசன், மற்ற அரசர்களுக்கெல்லாம் ஒளி போன்றவன். இதுவே இறைமாட்சி அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.
Word meanings
- கொடைkoṭaigenerosity
- அளிaḷicompassion
- செங்கோல்ceṅkōljust rule/scepter
- குடியோம்பல்kuṭiyōmpalprotecting subjects
- நான்கும்nāṉkumall four
- உடையான்uṭaiyāṉone who possesses
- ஆம்āmis
- வேந்தர்க்குvēntarkkuamong kings
- ஒளிoḷilight
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, King Alaric ruled. He was known for his overflowing granaries, freely shared with the hungry during famine. One day, a merchant was falsely accused of theft and brought before the King. Alaric, instead of harsh punishment, listened patiently, discovered the truth, and ensured the merchant received fair compensation. Seeing a farmer's hardship, the King offered him seed and land to cultivate. He also visited the sick and comforted the grieving, demonstrating deep care for his people. Word of King Alaric's actions spread far and wide. Other villages prospered under his guidance. Travelers from distant lands came to Eldoria, not for fear, but to experience the warmth of its people. The kingdom flourished, not just in wealth, but in the hearts of its subjects, for they saw in their King a shining example of true leadership.