Thirukkural - Parimelazhagar

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Four Aspects: (390)

Red text is according to Manakkudavar

  1. Beneficence (or Giving gifts) - Grant
  2. Benevolent (or Goodwill) - Subsidy
  3. Righteous Scepter - Right Authority to properly collect
  4. Caring for people - Waivers

Result: He is the light of kings

Temparence: (389)

  1. Bearing words that embitter the ear

Result: The whole world will dwell under the umbrella of the king

Justice & Protection: (388)

  1. Rendering Justice
  2. Protecting the subjects

Result: The king will be treated as God.

Language & Charity: (387)

  1. Using pleasant words
  2. Giving (or Charity)

Result: The world will praise and submit itself to the mind of the king.

இன்சொலால் ஈத்தளிக்க வல்லாற்கு தன்சொலால்

தான் கண்டனைத்து இவ்வுலகு.

Access & Language: (386)

  1. Having easy access (lit. translation: Having simple demeanor and setting)
  2. Refraining from using harsh words

Result: His land will regarded to be the highest.

Finance (or Wealth) Management: (385)

  1. Planning (for new sources of revenue) - by Defeating enemies, Collecting taxes, and for Protecting the frontier(?)
  2. Collection
  3. Protecting - from Enemies, Robbers, Relatives(!), and Workers
  4. Distribution
    • for Virtuous purposes - Charity to needy, brahmins,
    • for Administration purposes - arming the Army, Ministry, Winning back the defectors, and incenting the defectors from enemies(!)
    • for Enjoyment - building gardens, planting trees,

Virtue & Virile: (384)

  1. Not swerving from Dharma (or Virtues) - Common Dharma: Learning Martial Arts and Vedas, Seeking (Vettal) ; Special Dharma - Protecting lives, Destroying enemies, one more?
  2. Refraining from vice,
  3. Manly modesty

Three Qualities on Performance: (383)

  1. Prompt (and Alert) - Applies to Army, Fort, and all the activities that a king performs
  2. Education - Applies to all the activities that a king performs
  3. Bravery - Applies to Army, Fort, and all the activities that a king performs

Charateristics: (382)

  1. Fearlessness - Applies to Army, Fort
  2. Giving (or Charity) - Applies to Army, People(?), Ministers(?)
  3. Wisdom - Applies to all the limbs
  4. Enthusiasm - Applies to all the activities that a king performs

Six limbs of a Kingdom: (381)

  1. Army
  2. People (or Country)
  3. Wealth
  4. Ministry
  5. Friendship
  6. Fort

According to PMA, the sequence should be Ministry, Country, Fort, Wealth, Friendship, and Army.

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Irai Maatchi - Qualities and Activities of a King (38)

King is considered to be the reason for virtues (Raaja Dharmasya KaaraNam).

His Holiness (Kanchi Paramacharya) said: "It is natural that man should seek to satisfy his wants like hunger, thirst and a place to rest. There are duties which an individual has towards himself, the social group and the nation. Ordinarily, the performance of these duties remains on the level of satisfying the creaturely wants. But there is a way of performing these duties which will spiritually elevate everyone concerned. That is dharma. And it is the duty of the king or the State to see that the citizens are provided with every opportunity for spiritual growth and progress. That is the meaning of the saying, dharma. And it is the duty of the king or the State to see that the citizens are provided with every opportunity for spiritual growth and progress. That is the meaning of the saying, raja dharmasya kaaranam". http://www.kamakoti.org/souv/5-33.html