Kural #556
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
மன்னர்க்கு மன்னுதல் செங்கோன்மை
அஃதின்றேல் மன்னாவாம் மன்னர்க்கு ஒளி
Maṉṉarkku maṉṉutal ceṅkōṉmai
Aḥtiṉṟēl maṉṉāvām maṉṉarkku oḷi
English translation
Just rule is what makes kings endure; without it, their glory will not last.
Listen
Explanation
The word மன்னு means both "king" and "to endure/last." Thiruvalluvar plays on this: kings (மன்னர்) endure (மன்னுதல்) through just rule (செங்கோன்மை). Without justice, even royal glory (ஒளி) fades away.
விளக்கம்
மன்னர்கள் நிலைத்து நிற்க செங்கோல் ஆட்சி முக்கியம். கொடுங்கோன்மை செய்தால், அவர்களின் புகழ் அழியும். நீதி தவறினால் அரச வாழ்வு நிலைக்காது. இது கொடுங்கோன்மை அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.
Word meanings
- மன்னர்க்குmaṉṉarkkufor kings
- மன்னுதல்maṉṉutalenduring/lasting
- செங்கோன்மைceṅkōṉmaijust rule/righteous scepter
- அஃதுaḥtuthat
- இன்றேல்iṉṟēlif without
- மன்னாmaṉṉāwill not endure
- ஒளிoḷiglory/radiance
Story behind this kural
In the valley of Eldoria, King Alaric ruled. He built grand castles and levied heavy taxes, caring little for his people’s plight. The royal coffers overflowed, yet the villagers lived in poverty, their fields barren from neglect. Whispers of discontent grew louder with each passing season. Across the mountains, King Theron governed the neighboring kingdom. He listened to his people, ensuring fair laws and aiding those in need. His kingdom, though less opulent, thrived. Fields yielded bountiful harvests, and the people sang with joy. One harsh winter, a great famine struck Eldoria. The royal granaries remained locked, while Alaric feasted. Many villagers fled, seeking refuge in Theron’s lands. Soon, Alaric's once-mighty kingdom crumbled, his glorious castles deserted. The people, driven by desperation, had no loyalty to a cruel king. Theron, however, saw his kingdom prosper, the warmth of his people's gratitude a far greater treasure than gold.