Kural #542
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Tamil text
வானோக்கி வாழும் உலகெல்லாம்
மன்னவன் கோல்நோக்கி வாழும் குடி
Vāṉnōkki vāḻum ulakellām
Maṉṉavaṉ kōlnōkki vāḻum kuṭi
English translation
Just as the whole world lives by looking to the sky for rain, the people live by looking to the king's scepter.
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Explanation
A beautiful parallel: all life depends on rain from the sky (வான்); all society depends on the king's justice (கோல்). The ruler's justice is as essential to civilization as rain is to nature.
விளக்கம்
வானத்திலிருந்து மழை பெய்யும் வரை உலகமே காத்திருக்கும். அதுபோல, குடிமக்கள் நல்லாட்சி கிடைக்கும் வரை மன்னனை நம்பி வாழ்வார்கள். செங்கோன்மை அதிகாரத்தில், நீதி தவறாத ஆட்சி எவ்வளவு முக்கியம் என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது. நேர்மையான ஆட்சிதான் மக்களின் வாழ்க்கைக்கான ஆதாரம்.
Word meanings
- வான்vāṉsky/rain
- நோக்கிnōkkilooking to
- வாழும்vāḻumlives
- உலகுulakuworld
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- மன்னவன்maṉṉavaṉking
- கோல்kōlscepter/rule
- குடிkuṭipeople/subjects
Story behind this kural
In a valley nestled between towering mountains, the villagers of Eldoria thrived. Their lives were simple, their days filled with tending fields and raising families. Their prosperity, however, was inextricably linked to the wisdom of their King. One year, the rains failed. The river, their lifeblood, dwindled to a trickle. Panic spread. The King, known for his fairness, gathered his people. He declared that the royal granaries would be opened, distributing food equally among all, regardless of status. He then sent emissaries to seek help from neighboring kingdoms. The villagers, witnessing the King's just actions, found renewed hope. They worked together, conserving what little water remained, helping each other. When aid arrived, it was distributed fairly. Slowly, the river began to recover. The next year, the rains returned, and Eldoria flourished anew. The people understood the King's scepter was not just a symbol of power, but the very foundation of their well-being.