Kural #547
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Tamil text
இறைகாக்கும் வையகம் எல்லாம்
அவனை முறைகாக்கும் முட்டாச் செயின்
Iṟaikākkum vaiyakam ellām
Avaṉai muṟaikākkum muṭṭāc ceyiṉ
English translation
The king protects the whole world; justice protects the king - if he practices it without fail.
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Explanation
Beautiful reciprocity: the king protects the world (இறைகாக்கும் வையகம்), and justice protects the king (முறைகாக்கும்). But this protection works only if the king practices justice consistently (முட்டாச் செயின்).
விளக்கம்
குறள் 547: அரசன் உலகைக் காத்தால், அவனை நீதி தவறாமல் காக்கும். செங்கோன்மை அதிகாரத்தில், நீதி தவறாத ஆட்சி அரசனுக்கு முக்கியம். நீதி நிலைத்தால், அரசனுக்கு பாதுகாப்பு உறுதி.
Word meanings
- இறைiṟaiking
- காக்கும்kākkumprotects
- வையகம்vaiyakamworld
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- அவனைavaṉaihim
- முறைmuṟaijustice
- முட்டாmuṭṭāwithout fail
- செயின்ceyiṉif practiced
Story behind this kural
In a valley village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived a king named Varun. He ruled with an iron fist, demanding high taxes and punishing harshly for minor offenses. The villagers, once joyful, now lived in fear. Their fields yielded little, as they hid their meager earnings, and their homes became silent with worry. One harsh winter, the river froze, and the granaries emptied. The king, accustomed to his lavish feasts, remained oblivious. The villagers, weakened by hunger, began to whisper of rebellion. Suddenly, a wise old woman stepped forward. She advised the king to lower taxes and distribute grain fairly. Initially, Varun scoffed. But the village elder's words rang true: "A king's wealth is the people's well-being." Reluctantly, Varun followed her counsel. The villagers, relieved, worked harder. The fields flourished, the granaries overflowed, and the king's coffers grew fuller than ever. The king, observing the transformation, understood a truth that warmed his heart more than any feast.