Kural #560
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
ஆபயன் குன்றும் அறுதொழிலோர் நூல்மறப்பர்
காவலன் காவான் எனின்
Āpayaṉ kuṉṟum aṟutoḻilōr nūlmaṟappar
Kāvalaṉ kāvāṉ eṉiṉ
English translation
If the protector fails to protect, cows will yield less milk and scholars will forget their scriptures.
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Explanation
This kural describes the cascading effects of failed governance. When protection fails: agriculture suffers (cows give less milk), and learning declines (scholars forget texts). Both material and intellectual prosperity depend on good governance.
விளக்கம்
காவலன் காக்காவிட்டால், பசுக்கள் பால் தராது, அறிஞர்கள் நூல்களை மறப்பர். கொடுங்கோன்மை அதிகாரத்தில் இது அரசின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை கூறுகிறது. நல்லாட்சி இல்லாவிட்டால், செல்வமும் கல்வியும் அழியும். அறநெறி காக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- ஆācow
- பயன்payaṉyield/benefit
- குன்றும்kuṉṟumwill diminish
- அறுதொழிலோர்aṟutoḻilōrthose of the six duties (Brahmins/scholars)
- நூல்nūlscriptures/texts
- மறப்பர்maṟapparwill forget
- காவலன்kāvalaṉprotector/king
- காவான்kāvāṉdoes not protect
- எனின்eṉiṉif
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, Farmer Giles tended his fields, and Scholar Thomas diligently copied scrolls. Their lives were peaceful, protected by the benevolent King Alaric. The King ensured order, and the village thrived. One year, a greedy Baron coveted Eldoria’s wealth. He bribed the King’s guards, and soon, bandits roamed freely. Farmer Giles' crops were stolen, his cows yielded less milk as they grew thin from lack of care. Scholar Thomas, fearing for his life, spent less time studying, his mind clouded by worry. The precious scrolls lay unfinished, their wisdom fading. The village, once prosperous, began to crumble. Homes fell into disrepair, and the laughter of children was replaced by anxious whispers. Only when a new, just ruler replaced the corrupt King did Eldoria slowly begin to heal. The fields flourished once more, and the scholar could once again focus on his sacred work.