Tirukkural Chapter 57 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 57 - வெருவந்த செய்யாமை
CHAPTER 57 - ON TYRANNY
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57/07. கடுமொழியும் கையிகந்த தண்டமும் வேந்தன்
அடுமுரண் தேய்க்கும் அரம்.

57/07. Kadumozhiyum kaiyigandha dhandamukm vendhan
Adumurann theikkum aram.

57/07. A King who uses harsh words and gives extraordinary punishment
Is like a file cutting the iron, thus losing his capacity to fight an enemy.
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Balagopal: A strong iron rod can hit one
But a small file can cut it.

Damodar: Where light punishment
Is very much justified,
If a King gives severe punishment,
His limits he has exceeded.

Where soft words must be used,
He speaks harsh words,
Here also his boundaries,
Beyond limits, he has crossed.

Just like a small file that can cut
A strong iron rod into pieces,
A king will lose his people's support,
And before his enemy, will face defeat.
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57/08. இனத்தாற்றி எண்ணாத வேந்தன் சினத்தாற்றிச்
சீறின் சிறும் திரு.

57/08. Inaththaatrri ennaadha vendhan sinaththaatrrich
Seerin sirum thiru.

57/08. A King who doesn't consult his minister,
Nor carefully examines every deed,
He does a work that fails,
But he blames the minister for it,
For that he will lose his wealth daily.
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Balagopal: A King is thoughtless in doing things
And blaming his minister for his faults.

Damodar: Ministers are there to consult,
But the King prefers to insult
The minister for his own fault,
For which he never gave a thought.

Without minister's consultation
If he does a wrong action
To blame his minister for it
That's his mere foolish act.

He'll be wasting his money,
Thus losing his wealth daily,
One day, he'll see his treasury,
That'll become empty.
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57/09.செருவந்த போழ்தில் சிறைசெய்யா வேந்தன்
வெருவந்து வெய்து கெடும்.

57/09. Seruvandha pozhdhil siraiseiyaa vendhan
Veruvandhu veidhu kedum.

57/09. When a King is not keeping security force around him before a war
When that war comes he will perish for lack of securities.
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Balagopal: A King can't be so careless to remain
without any security around him.

Damodar: That shows his over confidence,
And also his mere foolishness,
In not keeping a security force,
Before the war commences.

It'll be too late for him,
To organize a force around him,
When the war commences,
And enemies are at his gates.

He'll perish in the war
As he can't go too far
To fight his enemies,
Who have stronger forces.
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57/10. கல்லார்ப் பிணிக்கும் கடுங்கோல்; அதுவல்லது
இல்லை நிலக்குப் பொறை.

57/10. Kallaarp pinnikkum kadungkol; adhuvalladhu
Illai nilaikkup porrai.

57/10. A tyrannical King will keep foolish ministers
Who are burden on this earth.
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Balagopal: A foolish King will keep fools only as ministers.

Damodar: Not only he's a foolish King
But also a tyrannical King.
His ministers will act as fools
Just to please what he likes.

That kind of mad kingdom,
For lack of proper wisdom
Either with King or his ministers
How it'll run, it's no surprise?

Without proper function,
They're just a burden
On this earth's surface
Having lost their faces.
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