Cruel Governance (By St. Thiruvalluvar) Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

551.The king who harasses his people and do evils as a trade
Is more cruel than the professional killers.
552.As the robber wields the lance, waylays and cries‘Give'
A cruel king wielding a scepter demands gifts from people.
553.The king who probes not the wrongs daily, misrules
And loses a part of his realm daily.
554.The king who foresees not the coming danger, misgoverns
and loses both his wealth and people together.
555.The tears of the people oppressed is the weapon
To wear away the hoarded wealth of the cruel king.
556.Just rule makes the fame of the king eternal.
Unjust rule makes his fame temporal.
557.As lack of rain makes the world moan
The lack of grace in a king makes his people groan.
558.The possession of property is more harmful than poverty
Under the sway of the cruel scepter of an unjust king.
559.If an unjust king makes gains in unrighteous means
The seasons change in his country and the clouds go dry.
560.If the king guards not, and the cows give scarce milk,
The sixfold smiths* forget their knowledge of the works.