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இறைமாட்சி: The Greatness of a King
About this chapter
இறைமாட்சி, the greatness of a king, opens பொருட்பால், the Book of Wealth, which deals with government and public life. Its theme is the qualities and resources that a ruler needs, and it reads easily as a description of good leadership.
Kural 381 lists six assets of a ruler: army, people, wealth, ministers, friends and fort. Whoever has all six is a lion among kings. Kural 382 names four qualities that must never fail: fearlessness, liberality, wisdom and energy. Kural 383 gives three more, vigilance, learning and decisiveness, and Kural 384 adds that a king must keep to virtue, avoid vice and keep honour. Kural 385 sets out what a ruler does with resources: acquire wealth, store it, protect it and distribute it. Kurals 386 and 387 stress accessibility and speech, praising the ruler who is easy to approach, avoids harsh words and gives with pleasant speech. Kural 388 says a king who protects his people with justice is regarded as a god among them, and Kural 389 that the world shelters under one who can bear words that pain the ear. Kural 390 ends with four things that make a ruler shine: giving, grace, rectitude and care for the people.
Kural 381 gives the most useful checklist, and Kural 386 and Kural 389 are the ones most relevant to any official.
For the syllabus, this chapter links directly to the governance theme.
The 10 kurals of இறைமாட்சி
Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.
படைகுடி கூழ்அமைச்சு நட்பரண் ஆறும்
உடையான் அரசருள் ஏறு.
Pataikuti Koozhamaichchu Natparan Aarum
Utaiyaan Arasarul Eru
An army, people, wealth, a minister, friends, fort: six things-Who owns them all, a lion lives amid the kings
அஞ்சாமை ஈகை அறிவூக்கம் இந்நான்கும்
எஞ்சாமை வேந்தர்க் கியல்பு.
Anjaamai Eekai Arivookkam Innaankum
Enjaamai Vendhark Kiyalpu
Courage, a liberal hand, wisdom, and energy: these fourAre qualities a king adorn for evermore
தூங்காமை கல்வி துணிவுடைமை இம்மூன்றும்
நீங்கா நிலனான் பவர்க்கு.
Thoongaamai Kalvi Thunivutaimai Immoondrum
Neengaa Nilanaan Pavarkku
A sleepless promptitude, knowledge, decision strong:These three for aye to rulers of the land belong
அறனிழுக்கா தல்லவை நீக்கி மறனிழுக்கா
மானம் உடைய தரசு.
Aranizhukkaa Thallavai Neekki Maranizhukkaa
Maanam Utaiya Tharasu
Kingship, in virtue failing not, all vice restrains, In courage failing not, it honour's grace maintains
இயற்றலும் ஈட்டலுங் காத்தலும் காத்த
வகுத்தலும் வல்ல தரசு.
Iyatralum Eettalung Kaaththalum Kaaththa
Vakuththalum Valla Tharasu
A king is he who treasure gains, stores up, defends, And duly for his kingdom's weal expends
காட்சிக் கெளியன் கடுஞ்சொல்லன் அல்லனேல்
மீக்கூறும் மன்னன் நிலம்
Kaatchik Keliyan Katunjollan Allanel
Meekkoorum Mannan Nilam
Where king is easy of access, where no harsh word repels, That land's high praises every subject swells
இன்சொலால் ஈத்தளிக்க வல்லார்க்குத் தன்சொலால்
தான்கண் டனைத்திவ் வுலகு.
Insolaal Eeththalikka Vallaarkkuth Thansolaal
Thaankan Tanaiththiv Vulaku
With pleasant speech, who gives and guards with powerful liberal hand, He sees the world obedient all to his command
முறைசெய்து காப்பாற்றும் மன்னவன் மக்கட்கு
இறையென்று வைக்கப் படும்.
Muraiseydhu Kaappaatrum Mannavan Makkatku
Iraiyendru Vaikkap Patum
Who guards the realm and justice strict maintains, That king as god o'er subject people reigns
செவிகைப்பச் சொற்பொறுக்கும் பண்புடை வேந்தன்
கவிகைக்கீழ்த் தங்கும் உலகு.
Sevikaippach Chorporukkum Panputai Vendhan
Kavikaikkeezhth Thangum Ulaku
The king of worth, who can words bitter to his ear endure, Beneath the shadow of his power the world abides secure
கொடையளி செங்கோல் குடியோம்பல் நான்கும்
உடையானாம் வேந்தர்க் கொளி.
Kotaiyali Sengol Kutiyompal Naankum
Utaiyaanaam Vendhark Koli
Gifts, grace, right sceptre, care of people's weal; These four a light of dreaded kings reveal
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