The Kural
All chapters › Wealth (பொருட்பால்) › Chapter 56
கொடுங்கோன்மை
Kurals 551–560 of the Thirukkural, in the book of Wealth (பொருட்பால்).
கொலைமேற்கொண் டாரிற் கொடிதே அலைமேற்கொண்டு
அல்லவை செய்தொழுகும் வேந்து.
Than one who plies the murderer's trade, more cruel is the king
Who all injustice works, his subjects harassing.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: A leader who oppresses people is worse than a murderer.
Open in the appவேலொடு நின்றான் இடுவென் றதுபோலும்
கோலொடு நின்றான் இரவு.
As 'Give' the robber cries with lance uplift,
So kings with sceptred hand implore a gift.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: A ruler demanding money unfairly is no better than a robber with a weapon saying "hand it over."
Open in the appநாடொறும் நாடி முறைசெய்யா மன்னவன்
நாடொறும் நாடு கெடும்.
Who makes no daily search for wrongs, nor justly rules, that king
Doth day by day his realm to ruin bring.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: A land whose leader doesn't look into injustice every day falls apart every day.
Open in the appகூழுங் குடியும் ஒருங்கிழக்கும் கோல்கோடிச்
சூழாது செய்யும் அரசு.
Whose rod from right deflects, who counsel doth refuse,
At once his wealth and people utterly shall lose.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: A leader who bends justice without a thought loses both wealth and people at once.
Open in the appஅல்லற்பட்டு ஆற்றாது அழுதகண் ணீரன்றே
செல்வத்தைத் தேய்க்கும் படை
His people's tears of sorrow past endurance, are not they
Sharp instruments to wear the monarch's wealth away?
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: The tears of people who can't bear oppression become a saw that cuts down the ruler's wealth.
Open in the appமன்னர்க்கு மன்னுதல் செங்கோன்மை அஃதின்றேல்
மன்னாவாம் மன்னர்க் கொளி.
To rulers' rule stability is sceptre right;
When this is not, quenched is the rulers' light.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Fair rule makes leaders' names last; without it, their fame fades.
Open in the appதுளியின்மை ஞாலத்திற்கு எற்றற்றே வேந்தன்
அளியின்மை வாழும் உயிர்க்கு.
As lack of rain to thirsty lands beneath,
Is lack of grace in kings to all that breathe.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: People under a leader without compassion are like a world without rain.
Open in the appஇன்மையின் இன்னாது உடைமை முறைசெய்யா
மன்னவன் கோற்கீழ்ப் படின்.
To poverty it adds a sharper sting,
To live beneath the sway of unjust king.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Under an unjust ruler, owning things brings more misery than having nothing.
Open in the appமுறைகோடி மன்னவன் செய்யின் உறைகோடி
ஒல்லாது வானம் பெயல்.
Where king from right deflecting, makes unrighteous gain,
The seasons change, the clouds pour down no rain.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: When a ruler is unjust, even the seasons go wrong and the rain stops.
Open in the appஆபயன் குன்றும் அறுதொழிலோர் நூல்மறப்பர்
காவலன் காவான் எனின்.
Where guardian guardeth not, udder of kine grows dry,
And Brahmans' sacred lore will all forgotten lie.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: If a leader stops protecting the land, the cows give less milk and even scholars forget their learning.
Open in the app