PART II. WEALTH - Royalty

Chapter. 39. The Greatness of a King

Kural - 382
Courage, a liberal hand, wisdom, and energy: these four
Are qualities a king adorn for evermore.
Never to fail in these four things, fearlessness, liberality, wisdom, and energy, is the kingly character.

Kural - 383
A sleepless promptitude, knowledge, decision strong:
These three for aye to rulers of the land belong.
These three things, viz., vigilance, learning, and bravery, should never be wanting in the ruler of a country.

Kural - 384
Kingship, in virtue failing not, all vice restrains,
In courage failing not, it honour's grace maintains.
He is a king who, with manly modesty, swerves not from virtue, and refrains from vice.

Kural - 385
A king is he who treasure gains, stores up, defends,
And duly for his kingdom's weal expends.
He is a king who is able to acquire (wealth), to lay it up, to guard, and to distribute it.

Kural - 386
Where king is easy of access, where no harsh word repels,
That land's high praises every subject swells.
The whole world will exalt the country of the king who is easy of access, and who is free from harsh language.

Kural - 387
With pleasant speech, who gives and guards with powerful liberal hand,
He sees the world obedient all to his command.
The world will praise and submit itself to the mind of the king who is able to give with affability, and to protect all who come to him.

Kural - 388
Who guards the realm and justice strict maintains,
That king as god o'er subject people reigns.
That king, will be esteemed a God among men, who performs his own duties, and protects (his subjects).

Kural - 389
The king of worth, who can words bitter to his ear endure,
Beneath the shadow of his power the world abides secure.
The whole world will dwell under the umbrella of the king, who can bear words that embitter the ear.

Kural - 390
Gifts, grace, right sceptre, care of people's weal;
These four a light of dreaded kings reveal.
He is the light of kings who has there four things, beneficence, benevolence, rectitude, and care for his people.

Chapter. 40. Learning

Kural - 392
The twain that lore of numbers and of letters give
Are eyes, the wise declare, to all on earth that live.
Letters and numbers are the two eyes of man.

Kural - 393
Men who learning gain have eyes, men say;
Blockheads' faces pairs of sores display.
The learned are said to have eyes, but the unlearned have (merely) two sores in their face.

Kural - 394
You meet with joy, with pleasant thought you part;
Such is the learned scholar's wonderous art!
It is the part of the learned to give joy to those whom they meet, and on leaving, to make them think (Oh! when shall we meet them again.)

Kural - 395
With soul submiss they stand, as paupers front a rich man's face;
Yet learned men are first; th'unlearned stand in lowest place.
The unlearned are inferior to the learned, before whom they stand begging, as the destitute before the wealthy.

Kural - 396
In sandy soil, when deep you delve, you reach the springs below;
The more you learn, the freer streams of wisdom flow.
Water will flow from a well in the sand in proportion to the depth to which it is dug, and knowledge will flow from a man in proportion to his learning.

Kural - 397
The learned make each land their own, in every city find a home;
Who, till they die; learn nought, along what weary ways they roam!
How is it that any one can remain without learning, even to his death, when (to the learned man) every country is his own (country), and every town his own (town) ?

Kural - 398
The man who store of learning gains,
In one, through seven worlds, bliss attains.
The learning, which a man has acquired in one birth, will yield him pleasure during seven births.

Kural - 399
Their joy is joy of all the world, they see; thus more
The learners learn to love their cherished lore.
The learned will long (for more learning), when they see that while it gives pleasure to themselves, the world also derives pleasure from it.

Kural - 400
Learning is excellence of wealth that none destroy;
To man nought else affords reality of joy.
Learning is the true imperishable riches; all other things are not riches.

Chapter. 41. Ignorance

Kural - 402
Like those who doat on hoyden's undeveloped charms are they,
Of learning void, who eagerly their power of words display.
The desire of the unlearned to speak (in an assembly), is like a woman without breasts desiring (the enjoyment of ) woman-hood.

Kural - 403
The blockheads, too, may men of worth appear,
If they can keep from speaking where the learned hear!
The unlearned also are very excellent men, if they know how to keep silence before the learned.

Kural - 404
From blockheads' lips, when words of wisdom glibly flow,
The wise receive them not, though good they seem to show.
Although the natural knowledge of an unlearned man may be very good, the wise will not accept for true knowledge.

Kural - 405
As worthless shows the worth of man unlearned,
When council meets, by words he speaks discerned.
The self-conceit of an unlearned man will fade away, as soon as he speaks in an assembly (of the learned).

Kural - 406
'They are': so much is true of men untaught;
But, like a barren field, they yield us nought!
The unlearned are like worthless barren land: all that can be said of them is, that they exist.

Kural - 407
Who lack the power of subtle, large, and penetrating sense,
Like puppet, decked with ornaments of clay, their beauty's vain pretence.
The beauty and goodness of one who is destitute of knowledge by the study of great and exquisite works, is like (the beauty and goodness) of a painted earthen doll.

Kural - 408
To men unlearned, from fortune's favour greater-evil springs
Than poverty to men of goodly wisdom brings.
Wealth, gained by the unlearned, will give more sorrow than the poverty which may come upon the learned.

Kural - 409
Lower are men unlearned, though noble be their race,
Than low-born men adorned with learning's grace.
The unlearned, though born in a high caste, are not equal in dignity to the learned; though they may have been born in a low caste.

Kural - 410
Learning's irradiating grace who gain,
Others excel, as men the bestial train.
As beasts by the side of men, so are other men by the side of those who are learned in celebrated works.

Chapter. 42. Hearing

Kural - 411
Wealth of wealth is wealth acquired be ear attent;
Wealth mid all wealth supremely excellent.
Wealth (gained) by the ear is wealth of wealth; that wealth is the chief of all wealth.

Kural - 412
When 'tis no longer time the listening ear to feed
With trifling dole of food supply the body's need.
When there is no food for the ear, give a little also to the stomach.

Kural - 413
Who feed their ear with learned teachings rare,
Are like the happy gods oblations rich who share.
Those who in this world enjoy instruction which is the food of the ear, are equal to the Gods, who enjoy the food of the sacrifices.

Kural - 414
Though learning none hath he, yet let him hear alway:
In weakness this shall prove a staff and stay.
Although a man be without learning, let him listen (to the teaching of the learned); that will be to him a staff in adversity.

Kural - 415
Like staff in hand of him in slippery ground who strays
Are words from mouth of those who walk in righteous ways.
The words of the good are like a staff in a slippery place.

Kural - 416
Let each man good things learn, for e'en as he
Shall learn, he gains increase of perfect dignity.
Let a man listen, never so little, to good (instruction), even that will bring him great dignity.

Kural - 417
Not e'en through inadvertence speak they foolish word,
With clear discerning mind who've learning's ample lessons heard.
Not even when they have imperfectly understood (a matter), will those men speak foolishly, who have profoundly studied and diligently listened (to instruction).

Kural - 418
Where teaching hath not oped the learner's ear,
The man may listen, but he scarce can hear.
The ear which has not been bored by instruction, although it hears, is deaf.

Kural - 419
'Tis hard for mouth to utter gentle, modest word,
When ears discourse of lore refined have never heard.
It is a rare thing to find modesty, a reverend mouth- with those who have not received choice instruction.

Kural - 420
His mouth can taste, but ear no taste of joy can give!
What matter if he die, or prosperous live?
What does it matter whether those men live or die, who can judge of tastes by the mouth, and not by the ear ?

Chapter. 43. The Possession of Knowledge

Kural - 422
Wisdom restrains, nor suffers mind to wander where it would;
From every evil calls it back, and guides in way of good.
Not to permit the mind to go where it lists, to keep it from evil, and to employ it in good, this is wisdom.

Kural - 423
Though things diverse from divers sages' lips we learn,
'Tis wisdom's part in each the true thing to discern.
To discern the truth in every thing, by whomsoever spoken, is wisdom.

Kural - 424
Wisdom hath use of lucid speech, words that acceptance win,
And subtle sense of other men's discourse takes in.
To speak so as that the meaning may easily enter the mind of the hearer, and to discern the subtlest thought which may lie hidden in the words of others, this is wisdom.

Kural - 425
Wisdom embraces frank the world, to no caprice exposed;
Unlike the lotus flower, now opened wide, now petals strictly closed.
To secure the friendship of the great is true wisdom; it is (also) wisdom to keep (that friendship unchanged, and) not opening and closing (like the lotus flower).

Kural - 426
As dwells the world, so with the world to dwell
In harmony- this is to wisely live and well.
To live as the world lives, is wisdom.

Kural - 427
The wise discern, the foolish fail to see,
And minds prepare for things about to be.
The wise are those who know beforehand what will happen; those who do not know this are the unwise.

Kural - 428
Folly meets fearful ills with fearless heart;
To fear where cause of fear exists is wisdom's part.
Not to fear what ought to be feared, is folly; it is the work of the wise to fear what should be feared.

Kural - 429
The wise with watchful soul who coming ills foresee;
From coming evil's dreaded shock are free.
No terrifying calamity will happen to the wise, who (foresee) and guard against coming evils.

Kural - 430
The wise is rich, with ev'ry blessing blest;
The fool is poor, of everything possessed.
Those who possess wisdom, possess every thing; those who have not wisdom, whatever they may possess, have nothing.

Chapter. 44. The Correction of Faults

Kural - 432
A niggard hand, o'erweening self-regard, and mirth
Unseemly, bring disgrace to men of kingly brith.
Avarice, undignified pride, and low pleasures are faults in a king.

Kural - 433
Though small as millet-seed the fault men deem;
As palm tree vast to those who fear disgrace 'twill seem.
Those who fear guilt, if they commit a fault small as a millet seed, will consider it to be as large as a palmyra tree.

Kural - 434
Freedom from faults is wealth; watch heedfully
'Gainst these, for fault is fatal enmity.
Guard against faults as a matter (of great consequence; for) faults are a deadly enemy.

Kural - 435
His joy who guards not 'gainst the coming evil day,
Like straw before the fire shall swift consume away.
The prosperity of him who does not timely guard against faults, will perish like straw before fire.

Kural - 436
Faultless the king who first his own faults cures, and then
Permits himself to scan faults of other men.
What fault will remain in the king who has put away his own evils, and looks after the evils of others.

Kural - 437
Who leaves undone what should be done, with niggard mind,
His wealth shall perish, leaving not a wrack behind.
The wealth of the avaricious man, who does not expend it for the purposes for which he ought to expend it will waste away and not continue.

Kural - 438
The greed of soul that avarice men call,
When faults are summed, is worst of all.
Griping avarice is not to be reckoned as one among other faults; (it stands alone - greater than all).

Kural - 439
Never indulge in self-complaisant mood,
Nor deed desire that yields no gain of good.
Let no (one) praise himself, at any time; let him not desire to do useless things.

Kural - 440
If, to your foes unknown, you cherish what you love,
Counsels of men who wish you harm will harmless prove.
If (a king) enjoys, privately the things which he desires, the designs of his enemies will be useless.

Chapter. 45. Seeking the Aid of Great Men

Kural - 442
Cherish the all-accomplished men as friends,
Whose skill the present ill removes, from coming ill defends.
Let (a king) procure and kindly care for men who can overcome difficulties when they occur, and guard against them before they happen.

Kural - 443
To cherish men of mighty soul, and make them all their own,
Of kingly treasures rare, as rarest gift is known.
To cherish great men and make them his own, is the most difficult of all difficult things.

Kural - 444
To live with men of greatness that their own excels,
As cherished friends, is greatest power that with a monarch dwells.
So to act as to make those men, his own, who are greater than himself is of all powers the highest.

Kural - 445
The king, since counsellors are monarch's eyes,
Should counsellors select with counsel wise.
As a king must use his ministers as eyes (in managing his kingdom), let him well examine their character and qualifications before he engages them.

Kural - 446
The king, who knows to live with worthy men allied,
Has nought to fear from any foeman's pride.
There will be nothing left for enemies to do, against him who has the power of acting (so as to secure) the fellowship of worthy men.

Kural - 447
What power can work his fall, who faithful ministers
Employs, that thunder out reproaches when he errs.
Who are great enough to destroy him who has servants that have power to rebuke him ?

Kural - 448
The king with none to censure him, bereft of safeguards all,
Though none his ruin work, shall surely ruined fall.
The king, who is without the guard of men who can rebuke him, will perish, even though there be no one to destroy him.

Kural - 449
Who owns no principal, can have no gain of usury;
Who lacks support of friends, knows no stability.
There can be no gain to those who have no capital; and in like manner there can be no permanence to those who are without the support of adherents.

Kural - 450
Than hate of many foes incurred, works greater woe
Ten-fold, of worthy men the friendship to forego.
It is tenfold more injurious to abandon the friendship of the good, than to incur the hatred of the many.

Chapter. 46. Avoiding mean Associations

Kural - 452
The waters' virtues change with soil through which they flow;
As man's companionship so will his wisdom show.
As water changes (its nature), from the nature of the soil (in which it flows), so will the character of men resemble that of their associates.

Kural - 453
Perceptions manifold in men are of the mind alone;
The value of the man by his companionship is known.
The power of knowing is from the mind; (but) his character is from that of his associates.

Kural - 454
Man's wisdom seems the offspring of his mind;
'Tis outcome of companionship we find.
Wisdom appears to rest in the mind, but it really exists to a man in his companions.

Kural - 455
Both purity of mind, and purity of action clear,
Leaning no staff of pure companionship, to man draw near.
Chaste company is the staff on which come, these two things, viz, purity of mind and purity of conduct.

Kural - 456
From true pure-minded men a virtuous race proceeds;
To men of pure companionship belong no evil deeds.
To the pure-minded there will be a good posterity. By those whose associates are pure, no deeds will be done that are not good.

Kural - 457
Goodness of mind to lives of men increaseth gain;
And good companionship doth all of praise obtain.
Goodness of mind will give wealth, and good society will bring with it all praise, to men.

Kural - 458
To perfect men, though minds right good belong,
Yet good companionship is confirmation strong.
Although they may have great (natural) goodness of mind, yet good society will tend to strengthen it.

Kural - 459
Although to mental goodness joys of other life belong,
Yet good companionship is confirmation strong.
Future bliss is (the result) of goodness of mind; and even this acquires strength from the society of the good.

Kural - 460
Than good companionship no surer help we know;
Than bad companionship nought causes direr woe.
There is no greater help than the company of the good; there is no greater source of sorrow than the company of the wicked.

Chapter. 47. Acting after due Consideration

Kural - 461
Expenditure, return, and profit of the deed
In time to come; weigh these- than to the act proceed.
Let a man reflect on what will be lost, what will be acquired and (from these) what will be his ultimate gain, and (then, let him) act.

Kural - 462
With chosen friends deliberate; next use the private thought;
Then act. By those who thus proceed all works with ease are wrought.
There is nothing too difficult to (be attained by) those who, before they act, reflect well themselves, and thoroughly consider (the matter) with chosen friends.

Kural - 463
To risk one's all and lose, aiming at added gain,
Is rash affair, from which the wise abstain.
Wise men will not, in the hopes of profit, undertake works that will consume their principal.

Kural - 464
A work of which the issue is not clear,
Begin not they reproachful scorn who fear.
Those who fear reproach will not commence anything which has not been (thoroughly considered) and made clear to them.

Kural - 465
With plans not well matured to rise against your foe,
Is way to plant him out where he is sure to grow!
One way to promote the prosperity of an enemy, is (for a king) to set out (to war) without having thoroughly weighed his ability (to cope with its chances).

Kural - 466
'Tis ruin if man do an unbefitting thing;
Fit things to leave undone will equal ruin bring.
He will perish who does not what is not fit to do; and he also will perish who does not do what it is fit to do.

Kural - 467
Think, and then dare the deed! Who cry,
'Deed dared, we'll think,' disgraced shall be.
Consider, and then undertake a matter; after having undertaken it, to say "We will consider," is folly.

Kural - 468
On no right system if man toil and strive,
Though many men assist, no work can thrive.
The work, which is not done by suitable methods, will fail though many stand to uphold it.

Kural - 469
Though well the work be done, yet one mistake is made,
To habitudes of various men when no regard is paid.
There are failures even in acting well, when it is done without knowing the various dispositions of men.

Kural - 470
Plan and perform no work that others may despise;
What misbeseems a king the world will not approve as wise.
Let a man reflect, and do things which bring no reproach; the world will not approve, with him, of things which do not become of his position to adopt.