Tirukkural Chapter 56 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 56 - கொடுங்கோன்மை
CHAPTER 56 - UNRIGHTEOUS RULE
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56/01. கொலைமேற்கொண் டாரின் கொடிதே அலைமேற்கொண்டு
அல்லவை செய்தொழுகும் வேந்து.

56/01. Kolaimerrkkonnd daarin kodidhe alaimerrkonndu
Allavai seithozhugum vendhu.

56/01. The unrighteous King tortures his subjects
He is worse than a professional murderer.
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Akash: An unrighteous King tortures
His subjects for no reason.

Swami: If the King is good,
The country also is good.
If he's unfortunately bad,
The country also becomes bad.

If he tortures his subjects
Simply for no reasons,
He's considered no better
Than a professional murderer.

Many kings invaded countries,
Massacred enemies' armies,
As cruel-brutal murderers.
And annexed their territories.
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56/02. வேலொடு நின்றான் இடுஎன் றதுபோலும்
கோலொடு நின்றான் இரவு.

56/02. Velodu nindraan iduen rradhupolum
Kolodu nindrra iravu.

56/02. A cruel King demanding things from his subjects
Is like a thief demanding, on spear point, wayfarers of their possessions.
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Akash: How can a King demand things from his subjects
Instead of giving them what they want?

Swami: It's like asking for ransom
From people of his own kingdom,
That's worse than thief loots,
On spear point, all wayfarers.

Many kings in the past,
Who were cruel, had lost
Their reputations by forcing
People to part with their things.

They collected from subjects
All kind of heavy taxes,
And confined defaulters in jails
Or slashed them with whips.
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56/03. நாடொறும் நாடி முறைசெய்யா மன்னவன்
நாடொறும் நாடு கெடும்.

56/03. Naadorrum naadi murraiseiyaa manavan
Naadorrum naadu kedum.

56/03. If a King does not review crimes daily and punish criminals
That country will perish gradually.
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Akash: The King is responsible to punish criminals
And if he fails the country will perish one day.

Swami: The duty of a King is
To review daily crimes
And punish those criminals
According to their crimes.

If he takes up criminal cases,
Only as and when he likes,
Instead of on daily basis,
Crimes will definitely increase.

The country will suffer then
Without King's protection
And criminals will walk freely
In streets looting people daily.
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