PART II. WEALTH - Royalty

Chapter. 48. The Knowledge of Power

Kural - 472
Who know what can be wrought, with knowledge of the means, on this,
Their mind firm set, go forth, nought goes with them amiss.
There is nothing which may not be accomplished by those who, before they attack (an enemy), make themselves acquainted with their own ability, and with whatever else is (needful) to be known, and apply themselves wholly to their object.

Kural - 473
Ill-deeming of their proper powers, have many monarchs striven,
And midmost of unequal conflict fallen asunder riven.
There are many who, ignorant of their (want of) power (to meet it), have haughtily set out to war, and broken down in the midst of it.

Kural - 474
Who not agrees with those around, no moderation knows,
In self-applause indulging, swift to ruin goes.
He will quickly perish who, ignorant of his own resources flatters himself of his greatness, and does not live in peace with his neighbours.

Kural - 475
With peacock feathers light, you load the wain;
Yet, heaped too high, the axle snaps in twain.
The axle tree of a bandy, loaded only with peacocks' feathers will break, if it be greatly overloaded.

Kural - 476
Who daring climbs, and would himself upraise
Beyond the branch's tip, with life the forfeit pays.
There will be an end to the life of him who, having climbed out to the end of a branch, ventures to go further.

Kural - 477
With knowledge of the measure due, as virtue bids you give!
That is the way to guard your wealth, and seemly live.
Let a man know the measure of his ability (to give), and let him give accordingly; such giving is the way to preserve his property.

Kural - 478
Incomings may be scant; but yet, no failure there,
If in expenditure you rightly learn to spare.
Even though the income (of a king) be small, it will not cause his (ruin), if his outgoings be not larger than his income.

Kural - 479
Who prosperous lives and of enjoyment knows no bound,
His seeming wealth, departing, nowhere shall be found.
The prosperity of him who lives without knowing the measure (of his property), will perish, even while it seems to continue.

Kural - 480
Beneficence that measures not its bound of means,
Will swiftly bring to nought the wealth on which it leans.
The measure of his wealth will quickly perish, whose liberality weighs not the measure of his property.

Chapter. 49. Knowing the fitting Time

Kural - 482
The bond binds fortune fast is ordered effort made,
Strictly observant still of favouring season's aid.
Acting at the right season, is a cord that will immoveably bind success (to a king).

Kural - 483
Can any work be hard in very fact,
If men use fitting means in timely act?
Is there anything difficult for him to do, who acts, with (the right) instruments at the right time ?

Kural - 484
The pendant world's dominion may be won,
In fitting time and place by action done.
Though (a man) should meditate (the conquest of) the world, he may accomplish it if he acts in the right time, and at the right place.

Kural - 485
Who think the pendant world itself to subjugate,
With mind unruffled for the fitting time must wait.
They who thoughtfully consider and wait for the (right) time (for action), may successfully meditate (the conquest of) the world.

Kural - 486
The men of mighty power their hidden energies repress,
As fighting ram recoils to rush on foe with heavier stress.
The self-restraint of the energetic (while waiting for a suitable opportunity), is like the drawing back of a fighting-ram in order to butt.

Kural - 487
The glorious once of wrath enkindled make no outward show,
At once; they bide their time, while hidden fires within them glow.
The wise will not immediately and hastily shew out their anger; they will watch their time, and restrain it within.

Kural - 488
If foes' detested form they see, with patience let them bear;
When fateful hour at last they spy,- the head lies there.
If one meets his enemy, let him show him all respect, until the time for his destruction is come; when that is come, his head will be easily brought low.

Kural - 489
When hardest gain of opportunity at last is won,
With promptitude let hardest deed be done.
If a rare opportunity occurs, while it lasts, let a man do that which is rarely to be accomplished (but for such an opportunity).

Kural - 490
As heron stands with folded wing, so wait in waiting hour;
As heron snaps its prey, when fortune smiles, put forth your power.
At the time when one should use self-control, let him restrain himself like a heron; and, let him like it, strike, when there is a favourable opportunity.

Chapter. 50. Knowing the Place

Kural - 491
Begin no work of war, depise no foe,
Till place where you can wholly circumvent you know.
Let not (a king) despise (an enemy), nor undertake any thing (against him), until he has obtained (a suitable) place for besieging him.

Kural - 492
Though skill in war combine with courage tried on battle-field,
The added gain of fort doth great advantage yield.
Even to those who are men of power and expedients, an attack in connection with a fortification will yield many advantages.

Kural - 493
E'en weak ones mightily prevail, if place of strong defence,
They find, protect themselves, and work their foes offence.
Even the powerless will become powerful and conquer, if they select a proper field (of action), and guard themselves, while they make war on their enemies.

Kural - 494
The foes who thought to triumph, find their thoughts were vain,
If hosts advance, seize vantage ground, and thence the fight maintain.
If they who draw near (to fight) choose a suitable place to approach (their enemy), the latter, will have to relinquish the thought which they once entertained, of conquering them.

Kural - 495
The crocodile prevails in its own flow of water wide,
If this it leaves, 'tis slain by anything beside.
In deep water, a crocodile will conquer (all other animals); but if it leave the water, other animals will conquer it.

Kural - 496
The lofty car, with mighty wheel, sails not o'er watery main,
The boat that skims the sea, runs not on earth's hard plain.
Wide chariots, with mighty wheels, will not run on the ocean; neither will ships that the traverse ocean, move on the earth.

Kural - 497
Save their own fearless might they need no other aid,
If in right place they fight, all due provision made.
You will need no other aid than fearlessness, if you thoroughly reflect (on what you are to do), and select (a suitable) place for your operations.

Kural - 498
If lord of army vast the safe retreat assail
Of him whose host is small, his mightiest efforts fail.
The power of one who has a large army will perish, if he goes into ground where only a small army can act.

Kural - 499
Though fort be none, and store of wealth they lack,
'Tis hard a people's homesteads to attack!
It is a hazardous thing to attack men in their own country, although they may neither have power nor a good fortress.

Kural - 500
The jackal slays, in miry paths of foot-betraying fen,
The elephant of fearless eye and tusks transfixing armed men.
A fox can kill a fearless, warrior-faced elephant, if it go into mud in which its legs sink down.

Chapter. 51. Selection and Confidence

Kural - 501
How treats he virtue, wealth and pleasure? How, when life's at stake,
Comports himself? This four-fold test of man will full assurance make.
Let (a minister) be chosen, after he has been tried by means of these four things, viz,-his virtue, (love of) money, (love of) sexual pleasure, and tear of (losing) life.

Kural - 502
Of noble race, of faultless worth, of generous pride
That shrinks from shame or stain; in him may king confide.
(The king's) choice should (fall) on him, who is of good family, who is free from faults, and who has the modesty which fears the wounds (of sin).

Kural - 503
Though deeply learned, unflecked by fault, 'tis rare to see,
When closely scanned, a man from all unwisdom free.
When even men, who have studied the most difficult works, and who are free from faults, are (carefully) examined, it is a rare thing to find them without ignorance.

Kural - 504
Weigh well the good of each, his failings closely scan,
As these or those prevail, so estimate the man.
Let (a king) consider (a man's) good qualities, as well as his faults, and then judge (of his character) by that which prevails.

Kural - 505
Of greatness and of meanness too,
The deeds of each are touchstone true.
A man's deeds are the touchstone of his greatness and littleness.

Kural - 506
Beware of trusting men who have no kith of kin;
No bonds restrain such men, no shame deters from sin.
Let (a king) avoid choosing men who have no relations; such men have no attachment, and therefore have no fear of crime.

Kural - 507
By fond affection led who trusts in men of unwise soul,
Yields all his being up to folly's blind control.
To choose ignorant men, through partiality, is the height of folly.

Kural - 508
Who trusts an untried stranger, brings disgrace,
Remediless, on all his race.
Sorrow that will not leave even his posterity will come upon him chooses a stranger whose character he has not known.

Kural - 509
Trust no man whom you have not fully tried,
When tested, in his prudence proved confide.
Let (a king) choose no one without previous consideration; after he has made his choice, let him unhesitatingly select for each such duties as are appropriate.

Kural - 510
Trust where you have not tried, doubt of a friend to feel,
Once trusted, wounds inflict that nought can heal.
To make choice of one who has not been examined, and to entertain doubts respecting one who has been chosen, will produce irremediable sorrow.

Chapter. 52. Selection and Employment

Kural - 512
Who swells the revenues, spreads plenty o'er the land,
Seeks out what hinders progress, his the workman's hand.
Let him do (the king's) work who can enlarge the sources (of revenue), increase wealth and considerately prevent the accidents (which would destroy it).

Kural - 513
A loyal love with wisdom, clearness, mind from avarice free;
Who hath these four good gifts should ever trusted be.
Let the choice (of a king) fall upon him who largely possesses these four things, love, knowledge, a clear mind and freedom from covetousness.

Kural - 514
Even when tests of every kind are multiplied,
Full many a man proves otherwise, by action tried!
Even when (a king) has tried them in every possible way, there are many men who change, from the nature of the works (in which they may be employed).

Kural - 515
No specious fav'rite should the king's commission bear,
But he that knows, and work performs with patient care.
(A king's) work can only be accomplished by a man of wisdom and patient endurance; it is not of a nature to be given to one from mere personal attachment.

Kural - 516
Let king first ask, 'Who shall the deed perform?' and 'What the deed?'
Of hour befitting both assured, let every work proceed.
Let (a king) act, after having considered the agent (whom he is to employ), the deed (he desires to do), and the time which is suitable to it.

Kural - 517
'This man, this work shall thus work out,' let thoughtful king command;
Then leave the matter wholly in his servant's hand.
After having considered, "this man can accomplish this, by these means", let (the king) leave with him the discharge of that duty.

Kural - 518
As each man's special aptitude is known,
Bid each man make that special work his own.
Having considered what work a man is fit for, let (the king) employ him in that work.

Kural - 519
Fortune deserts the king who ill can bear,
Informal friendly ways of men his tolls who share.
Prosperity will leave (the king) who doubts the friendship of the man who steadily labours in the discharge of his duties.

Kural - 520
Let king search out his servants' deeds each day;
When these do right, the world goes rightly on its way.
Let a king daily examine the conduct of his servants; if they do not act crookedly, the world will not act crookedly

Chapter. 53. Cherishing one's Kindred

Kural - 521
When wealth is fled, old kindness still to show,
Is kindly grace that only kinsmen know.
Even when (a man's) property is all gone, relatives will act towards him with their accustomed (kindness).

Kural - 522
The gift of kin's unfailing love bestows
Much gain of good, like flower that fadeless blows.
If (a man's) relatives remain attached to him with unchanging love, it will be a source of ever-increasing wealth.

Kural - 523
His joy of life who mingles not with kinsmen gathered round,
Is lake where streams pour in, with no encircling bound.
The wealth of one who does not mingle freely with his relatives, will be like the filling of water in a spacious tank that has no banks.

Kural - 524
The profit gained by wealth's increase,
Is living compassed round by relatives in peace.
To live surrounded by relatives, is the advantage to be derived from the acquisition of wealth.

Kural - 525
Who knows the use of pleasant words, and liberal gifts can give,
Connections, heaps of them, surrounding him shall live.
He will be surrounded by numerous relatives who manifests generosity and affability.

Kural - 526
Than one who gifts bestows and wrath restrains,
Through the wide world none larger following gains.
No one, in all the world, will have so many relatives (about him), as he who makes large gift, and does not give way to anger.

Kural - 527
The crows conceal not, call their friends to come, then eat;
Increase of good such worthy ones shall meet.
The crows do not conceal (their prey), but will call out for others (to share with them) while they eat it; wealth will be with those who show a similar disposition (towards their relatives).

Kural - 528
Where king regards not all alike, but each in his degree,
'Neath such discerning rule many dwell happily.
Many relatives will live near a king, when they observe that he does not look on all alike, but that he looks on each man according to his merit.

Kural - 529
Who once were his, and then forsook him, as before
Will come around, when cause of disagreement is no more.
Those who have been friends and have afterwards forsaken him, will return and join themselves (to him), when the cause of disagreement is not to be found in him.

Kural - 530
Who causeless went away, then to return, for any cause, ask leave;
The king should sift their motives well, consider, and receive!
When one may have left him, and for some cause has returned to him, let the king fulfil the object (for which he has come back) and thoughtfully receive him again.

Chapter. 54. Unforgetfulness

Kural - 532
Perpetual, poverty is death to wisdom of the wise;
When man forgets himself his glory dies!
Forgetfulness will destroy fame, even as constant poverty destroys knowledge.

Kural - 533
'To self-oblivious men no praise'; this rule
Decisive wisdom sums of every school.
Thoughtlessness will never acquire fame; and this tenet is upheld by all treatises in the world.

Kural - 534
'To cowards is no fort's defence'; e'en so
The self-oblivious men no blessing know.
Just as the coward has no defence (by whatever fortifications ha may be surrounded), so the thoughtless has no good (whatever advantages he may possess).

Kural - 535
To him who nought foresees, recks not of anything,
The after woe shall sure repentance bring.
The thoughtless man, who provides not against the calamities that may happen, will afterwards repent for his fault.

Kural - 536
Towards all unswerving, ever watchfulness of soul retain,
Where this is found there is no greater gain.
There is nothing comparable with the possession of unfailing thoughtfulness at all times; and towards all persons.

Kural - 537
Though things are arduous deemed, there's nought may not be won,
When work with mind's unslumbering energy and thought is done.
There is nothing too difficult to be accomplished, if a man set about it carefully, with unflinching endeavour.

Kural - 538
Let things that merit praise thy watchful soul employ;
Who these despise attain through sevenfold births no joy.
Let (a man) observe and do these things which have been praised (by the wise); if he neglects and fails to perform them, for him there will be no (happiness) throughout the seven births.

Kural - 539
Think on the men whom scornful mind hath brought to nought,
When exultation overwhelms thy wildered thought.
Let (a king) think of those who have been ruined by neglect, when his mind is elated with joy.

Kural - 540
'Tis easy what thou hast in mind to gain,
If what thou hast in mind thy mind retain.
It is easy for (one) to obtain whatever he may think of, if he can again think of it.

Chapter. 55. The Right Sceptre

Kural - 542
All earth looks up to heav'n whence raindrops fall;
All subjects look to king that ruleth all.
When there is rain, the living creation thrives; and so when the king rules justly, his subjects thrive.

Kural - 543
Learning and virtue of the sages spring,
From all-controlling sceptre of the king.
The sceptre of the king is the firm support of the Vedas of the Brahmin, and of all virtues therein described.

Kural - 544
Whose heart embraces subjects all, lord over mighty land
Who rules, the world his feet embracing stands.
The world will constantly embrace the feet of the great king who rules over his subjects with love.

Kural - 545
Where king, who righteous laws regards, the sceptre wields,
There fall the showers, there rich abundance crowns the fields.
Rain and plentiful crops will ever dwell together in the country of the king who sways his sceptre with justice.

Kural - 546
Not lance gives kings the victory,
But sceptre swayed with equity.
It is not the javelin that gives victory, but the king's sceptre, if it do no injustice.

Kural - 547
The king all the whole realm of earth protects;
And justice guards the king who right respects.
The king defends the whole world; and justice, when administered without defect, defends the king.

Kural - 548
Hard of access, nought searching out, with partial hand
The king who rules, shall sink and perish from the land.
The king who gives not facile audience (to those who approach him), and who does not examine and pass judgment (on their complaints), will perish in disgrace.

Kural - 549
Abroad to guard, at home to punish, brings
No just reproach; 'tis work assigned to kings.
In guarding his subjects (against injury from others), and in preserving them himself; to punish crime is not a fault in a king, but a duty.

Kural - 550
By punishment of death the cruel to restrain,
Is as when farmer frees from weeds the tender grain.
For a king to punish criminals with death, is like pulling up the weeds in the green corn.