Kural #445
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Tamil text
சூழ்வார்கண் ணாக ஒழுகலான்
மன்னவன் சூழ்வாரைச் சூழ்ந்து கொளல்
Cūḻvārkaṇ ṇāka oḻukalāṉ
Maṉṉavaṉ cūḻvāraic cūḻntu koḷal
English translation
Since a king sees through his counselors' eyes, he must carefully choose his counselors.
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Explanation
Leaders depend on advisors for information and judgment. Since a ruler cannot see everything personally, the quality of his vision depends entirely on the quality of his council. Choose them wisely.
விளக்கம்
அரசனுக்கு அமைச்சர்களே கண்கள். அவர்கள் ஆலோசனைப்படியே ஆட்சி நடக்கும். அதனால், நல்ல அறிவுள்ள, நேர்மையான அமைச்சர்களைத் தேர்ந்தெடுப்பது முக்கியம். பெரியோர்களின் துணையை நாடுவது அரசின் வெற்றிக்கு உதவும்.
Word meanings
- சூழ்வார்cūḻvārcounselors
- கண்kaṇeye
- ஆகākaas
- ஒழுகலான்oḻukalāṉsince conducting
- மன்னவன்maṉṉavaṉking
- சூழ்வாரைcūḻvāraicounselors
- சூழ்ந்துcūḻntuexamining
- கொளல்koḷalshould take
Story behind this kural
King Tharan ruled a prosperous kingdom, yet he often felt lost in the complexities of governance. He sought the counsel of two advisors: the wise old Sage and the ambitious, silver-tongued Merchant. The Sage always offered calm, measured advice, prioritizing the well-being of the people. The Merchant, however, saw every situation as an opportunity for profit, whispering of quick gains and lavish projects. One year, a devastating drought struck the kingdom. The Sage urged the King to conserve resources and support the farmers. The Merchant proposed building a grand irrigation system, promising wealth for the kingdom, while secretly planning to profit from the construction. King Tharan, swayed by the Merchant's grand vision, authorized the project. The system, poorly planned and hastily built, collapsed during the first heavy rains. The kingdom faced ruin. Seeing the suffering of his people, King Tharan finally understood where true vision lay. He turned to the Sage, and slowly, the kingdom began to heal.