Kural #551
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Tamil text
கொலைமேற்கொண் டாரிற் கொடிதே
அலைமேற்கொண்டு அல்லவை செய்தொழுகும் வேந்து
Kolaimēṟkoṇ ṭāriṟ koṭitē
Alaimēṟkoṇṭu allavai ceytōḻukum vēntu
English translation
A king who oppresses his subjects and commits injustice is more cruel than a murderer.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar makes a powerful comparison: a tyrant who systematically oppresses people is worse than an individual murderer. While a murderer kills once, an unjust ruler continuously torments the entire population. This sets the tone for the entire chapter on cruel governance.
விளக்கம்
கொலை செய்பவரை விட கொடுங்கோல் அரசன் கொடியவன். அவன் மக்களை துன்புறுத்தி, நீதி தவறி நடத்துவான். கொடுங்கோன்மை அதிகாரம் இதை விளக்குகிறது. நேர்மையாக ஆள வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- கொலைkolaimurder
- மேற்கொண்டார்mēṟkoṇṭārthose who commit
- கொடிதுkoṭitucruel/worse
- அலைalaioppression/harassment
- அல்லவைallavaiunjust acts
- செய்துceytudoing
- ஒழுகும்oḻukumbehaving/conducting
- வேந்துvēntuking/ruler
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, lived two men of power. One was Kael, a farmer known for his quick temper. If a chicken strayed onto his land, it met a swift end. The villagers feared his rage, but it was often short-lived. The other was King Alaric. He ruled with an iron fist, taxing the people unfairly, demanding the finest harvests, and imprisoning those who questioned him. Every day, the villagers suffered, their bellies empty, their spirits broken. One day, Kael, in a fit of anger, killed a young boy who trespassed on his land. The village mourned, and the King, pretending to be concerned, ordered Kael’s swift execution. The villagers, relieved at Kael’s demise, soon found themselves facing even harsher taxes. Their suffering under Alaric's rule continued, a heavy weight upon their hearts. They realized the fleeting cruelty of one man was nothing compared to the enduring oppression of the King. The shadow of his reign cast a long and chilling darkness over Eldoria.