Tirukkural Chapter 57 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 57 - Couplets 4,5,6

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 57 - வெருவந்த செய்யாமை
CHAPTER 57 - ON TYRANNY
***
57/04. இறைகடியன் என்றுரைக்கும் இன்னாச்சொல் வேந்தன்
உறைகடுகி ஒல்லைக் கெடும்.

57/04. Irraikkadiyan endruraikkum innaachchol vendhan
Urraikkdugi ollaik kedum.

57/04. A King's days are numbered and he'll lose his wealth also,
The moment his subjects say "Our King is a tyrant."
***
Balagopal: A King will not survive long
When the people say that he's a tyrant.

Damodar: Duryodana was a cruel King
Dharmaraj was a good King.
Ultimately Duryodana died
And Dharmaraj survived.

Lord Krishna in Bhagvat Gita says,
"Whenever vice prevails,
And virtue subsides,
I descend to help mankind."

So, a tyrant has remote chance
Of his survival for many years
As God will finally kill him
After giving him some more time.
***
57/05. அருஞ்செவ்வி இன்னா முகத்தான் பெருஞ்செல்வம்
பேஎய்கண் டன்னது உடைத்து.

57/05. Arunjchevvi innaa mughaththaan perunjchelvam
Peikann dannadhu udaiththu.

57/05. A King who is inaccessible for public complaints, keeping a hatred face,
His wealth is like a treasure guarded by a devil.
***
Balagopal: A King should have a majestic personality
That all will recognize him as a great king.

Damodar: What's the use of a treasure
Guarded by a devil forever;
Like that, a tyrant's wealth is of no use,
As long as he keeps a hatred face.

If he avoids public complaints
Name sake a King he is,
But is unfit to sit on his throne
And he's out to be thrown.

A King is no better than a devil,
That doesn't torture people,
But the King harasses them
And he carries their blame.
***
57/06. கடுஞ்சொல்லின் கண்ணிலன் ஆயின் நெடுஞ்செல்வம்
நீடின்றி ஆங்கே கெடும்.

57/06. Kadunjchollin kannilan aayin nedunjselvam
Needinrri aangey kedum.

57/06. If a King uses harsh words and cares not for his subjects
His big wealth will never stay, but will perish then and there.
***
Balagopal: À King is called a King
Because he's supposed to lead his country and its subjects.

Damodar: A King shouting and yelling,
He's a brute and not a King,
And when he cares not
For his people, he's a beast.

He doesn't know how to handle
His wealth that one day will
Perish for his tyrannical deeds
And also for his atrocities.

How can he use harsh words,
And wound the people's minds,
Instead of having a healing touch
With their hearts very much?
***

Monday, October 3, 2016
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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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