Kural #559
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Tamil text
முறைகோடி மன்னவன் செய்யின்
உறைகோடி ஒல்லாது வானம் பெயல்
Muṟaikōṭi maṉṉavaṉ ceyyiṉ
Uṟaikōṭi ollātu vāṉam peyal
English translation
If a king acts unjustly, the rains will fail and the skies will withhold their bounty.
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Explanation
This kural presents the ancient belief in cosmic justice: nature itself responds to human morality. When a ruler deviates from dharma, even the heavens protest by withholding rain. The king's righteousness is connected to natural prosperity.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 559: அரசன் நீதி தவறி ஆட்சி செய்தால், வானம் மழை பெய்யாது. இது கொடுங்கோன்மை அதிகாரத்தில் வருகிறது. நல்லாட்சி இயற்கைக்கும் நன்மை தரும் என்பதே நீதி.
Word meanings
- முறைmuṟaijustice
- கோடிkōṭideviating
- மன்னவன்maṉṉavaṉking
- செய்யின்ceyyiṉif he acts
- உறைuṟaidwelling/staying
- ஒல்லாதுollātuwill not be possible
- வானம்vāṉamsky/rain
- பெயல்peyalto rain
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, King Alaric ruled with a heavy hand. He levied unjust taxes, hoarding the wealth for himself while his people struggled. The farmers pleaded for fairer treatment, but the King turned a deaf ear, focused on building a grand palace. As the months passed, the rains grew scarce. The river, once overflowing, dwindled to a trickle. Fields cracked under the relentless sun, and the harvest withered before it could ripen. The villagers grew desperate, their children hungry. Old Elara, a wise woman known for her connection to the earth, spoke to the King. "Your greed has angered the heavens," she warned. "The land suffers because of your unjust rule." The King scoffed, dismissing her words. But as famine tightened its grip, even Alaric saw the truth. The granaries remained full, but the kingdom was dying. The lavish palace offered no comfort as the land turned barren, a silent testament to the King's selfish ways.