Kural #448
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Tamil text
இடிப்பாரை இல்லாத ஏமரா மன்னன்
கெடுப்பா ரிலானுங் கெடும்
Iṭippārai illāta ēmarā maṉṉaṉ
Keṭuppā rilāṉuṅ keṭum
English translation
A king without advisors who rebuke him will perish even without enemies.
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Explanation
A ruler surrounded only by yes-men will destroy himself. He needs no external enemies - his own unchecked mistakes will bring about his downfall. Criticism is protection.
விளக்கம்
பெரியாரைத் துணையாகக் கொள்ளாத அரசன் தவறு செய்தால் சுட்டிக் காட்ட யாருமில்லாமல் அழிவான். எதிரிகளே இல்லாவிட்டாலும், தன் தவறுகளாலேயே கெட்டுப் போவான். நல்ல ஆலோசகர்கள் பாதுகாப்பாவார்கள்.
Word meanings
- இடிப்பாரைiṭippāraithose who rebuke
- இல்லாதillātawithout
- ஏமராēmarāunguarded/careless
- மன்னன்maṉṉaṉking
- கெடுப்பார்keṭuppārthose who destroy
- இலானும்ilāṉumeven without
- கெடும்keṭumwill perish
Story behind this kural
King Alaric, a proud ruler, reveled in the flattery of his court. Each morning, his advisors praised his wisdom, his strength, his very presence. No suggestion was ever challenged, no decree questioned. The kingdom flourished, or so it seemed. One day, a farmer brought a complaint: the royal irrigation project was diverting water, ruining his crops. The advisors, fearing to displease the king, dismissed the farmer as a grumbler. Alaric, pleased with their swift agreement, ignored the plea. Months later, the land withered. The once-fertile fields became dust. The granaries emptied. The kingdom, once prosperous, faced famine. Alaric, surrounded by his silent advisors, found his power crumbling, not from an invading army, but from the barren soil beneath his feet. He finally understood the true meaning of loyalty.