Kural #550
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Tamil text
கொலையிற் கொடியாரை வேந்தொறுத்தல்
பைங்கூழ் களைகட் டதனொடு நேர்
Kolaiyiṟ koṭiyārai vēntoṟuttal
Paiṅkūḻ kaḷaikaṭ ṭataṉoṭu nēr
English translation
A king punishing murderers and cruel criminals is like weeding the field to protect the young crops.
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Explanation
A powerful agricultural metaphor: just as weeds (களை) must be removed to let crops (பைங்கூழ்) flourish, criminals must be punished to let good citizens prosper. Protecting the innocent requires removing the harmful.
விளக்கம்
கொடியவர்களைத் தண்டிப்பது, பயிரைக் காக்கக் களை எடுப்பதற்குச் சமம். நீதி தவறாத அரசன், குற்றவாளிகளை ஒழித்து நல்ல மக்களைக் காக்க வேண்டும். இது செங்கோன்மை அதிகாரத்தின் முக்கிய கருத்தாகும். தீயவர்களை நீக்கினால் தான் நாடு செழிக்கும்.
Word meanings
- கொலையின்kolaiyiṉby murder
- கொடியாரைkoṭiyāraicruel ones
- வேந்துvēntuking
- ஒறுத்தல்oṟuttalpunishing
- பைங்கூழ்paiṅkūḻyoung crops
- களைkaḷaiweed
- கட்டுkaṭṭuremoving
- அதனொடுataṉoṭuwith that
- நேர்nērequal/like
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, Farmer Giles toiled tirelessly. His fields of barley, once lush, began to wither. Not from drought, but from the shadow of the Bandit King, who stole from the hardworking and left fear in his wake. The villagers pleaded with King Alaric. "Protect us, your Majesty!" they cried. "Our harvests are stolen, and our families live in terror!" King Alaric, a just ruler, listened intently. He observed the Bandit King's cruelty, his disregard for the common folk. Then, he acted swiftly. The Bandit King was captured, and his reign of terror ended. With the bandits gone, the fields of Eldoria began to recover. The barley grew tall and golden, nourished by the sun and the newfound peace. Farmer Giles smiled, his heart filled with hope, as he harvested a bountiful crop, knowing the seeds of prosperity had been sown by the King's firm hand.