Kural #432
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Tamil text
இவறலும் மாண்பிறந்த மானமும்
மாணா உவகையும் ஏதம் இறைக்கு
Ivaṟalum māṇpiṟanta māṉamum
Māṇā uvakeyum ētam iṟaikku
English translation
Stinginess, false pride, and improper joy are faults in a ruler.
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Explanation
Leaders must avoid three specific defects: being miserly (which loses support), having misplaced pride (which blinds judgment), and taking pleasure in wrong things (which corrupts character).
விளக்கம்
குறள் 432: ஒரு அரசன் கருமியாகவும், அளவுக்கு மீறிய கர்வம் கொண்டும், தகாத விஷயங்களில் சந்தோஷம் கொண்டும் இருந்தால், அது அவனுக்குத் தவறாகும். குற்றங்களை நீக்கி ஆளவேண்டும் என்பதே அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து. நல்லாட்சிக்கு இவை தடையாக இருக்கும்.
Word meanings
- இவறல்ivaṟalstinginess/miserliness
- மாண்புmāṇpunobility
- இறந்தiṟantacrossed/excessive
- மானம்māṉampride/honor
- மாணாmāṇāimproper
- உவகைuvakaijoy/pleasure
- ஏதம்ētamfault/defect
- இறைக்குiṟaikkufor a ruler
Story behind this kural
King Alaric ruled with a heavy hand. He hoarded the kingdom’s riches, never sharing with his people. His treasury overflowed, yet the villagers lived in poverty. "My wealth is my strength!" he’d boast, puffing out his chest. One day, a neighboring kingdom declared war. Alaric, blinded by his false pride, refused to listen to his advisors, who warned of his weakened army and unhappy populace. Instead, he celebrated his grand armor and shiny swords, imagining an easy victory. The battle was swift and brutal. Alaric’s stinginess meant his soldiers were poorly equipped and lacked morale. The people, resentful of his neglect, offered no aid. The king’s misplaced joy in his own grandeur proved to be his undoing. His army crumbled, and his kingdom fell.