Kural #690
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Tamil text
இறுதி பயப்பினும் எஞ்சாது
இறைவற்கு உறுதி பயப்பதாம் தூது
Iṟuti payappiṉum eñcātu
Iṟaivaṟku uṟuti payappatām tūtu
English translation
True embassy is bringing benefit to one's king without faltering, even if it brings death.
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Explanation
The ultimate test of an envoy: delivering benefit (உறுதி) to one's lord (இறைவற்கு) without hesitation (எஞ்சாது), even if it means death (இறுதி பயப்பினும்). Loyalty unto death defines the ideal diplomat.
விளக்கம்
தூது அதிகாரம் அரசனுக்குத் தூது செல்பவரின் கடமையைக் கூறுகிறது. தூதன் தன் உயிருக்கு ஆபத்து வந்தாலும், அரசனுக்கு நன்மை செய்வதே முக்கியம். உறுதியான விசுவாசமே சிறந்த தூதுவனின் அடையாளம்.
Word meanings
- இறுதிiṟutideath/end
- பயப்பினும்payappiṉumeven if it brings
- எஞ்சாதுeñcātuwithout faltering
- இறைவற்குiṟaivaṟkufor the lord/king
- உறுதிuṟutibenefit/firmness
- பயப்பதுpayappatubringing
- ஆம்āmis
- தூதுtūtuembassy
Story behind this kural
In the kingdom of Eldoria, King Alaric faced a cruel ultimatum from the Iron Lord: surrender or face annihilation. He chose his bravest knight, Sir Kael, to deliver a counter-offer, a plea for peace. Kael journeyed through treacherous lands, finally reaching the Iron Lord’s fortress. He delivered Alaric’s message, a challenge to single combat. The Iron Lord, enraged, declared Kael a traitor and sentenced him to death. Knowing his fate, Kael could have begged for mercy, revealed the kingdom’s weaknesses, or even fled. Instead, he stood tall, his eyes fixed on the Iron Lord. With his last breath, he spoke of Eldoria's strength, its people's loyalty, and the King's unwavering resolve. The Iron Lord, surprised by Kael's courage and conviction, hesitated. He saw not a defeated foe, but a reflection of the strength he himself admired. He reconsidered his attack, and eventually, peace was brokered.