TIRUKKURAL, Mysticism, reading, forums, Numerology, Sun Signs, Divination

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:25 pm

2.1.16. Unforgetfulness

531
'Tis greater ill, it rapture of o'erweening gladness to the soul
Bring self-forgetfulness than if transcendent wrath control.
More evil than excessive anger, is forgetfulness which springs from the intoxication of great joy.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2.1.17. The Right Sceptre

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Search out, to no one favour show; with heart that justice loves
Consult, then act; this is the rule that right approves.
To examine into (the crimes which may be committed), to show no favour (to any one), to desire to act with impartiality towards all, and to inflict (such punishments) as may be wisely resolved on, constitute rectitude.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2.1.18. The Cruel Sceptre

551
Than one who plies the murderer's trade, more cruel is the king
Who all injustice works, his subjects harassing.
The king who gives himself up to oppression and acts unjustly (towards his subjects) is more cruel than the man who leads the life of a murderer.

552
As 'Give' the robber cries with lance uplift,
So kings with sceptred hand implore a gift.
The request (for money) of him who holds the sceptre is like the word of a highway robber who stands with a weapon in hand and says "give up your wealth".

553
Who makes no daily search for wrongs, nor justly rules, that king
Doth day by day his realm to ruin bring.
The country of the king who does not daily examine into the wrongs done and distribute justice, will daily fall to ruin.

554
Whose rod from right deflects, who counsel doth refuse,
At once his wealth and people utterly shall lose.
The king, who, without reflecting (on its evil consequences), perverts justice, will lose at once both his wealth and his subjects.

555
His people's tears of sorrow past endurance, are not they
Sharp instruments to wear the monarch's wealth away?
Will not the tears, shed by a people who cannot endure the oppression which they suffer (from their king), become a saw to waste away his wealth ?

556
To rulers' rule stability is sceptre right;
When this is not, quenched is the rulers' light.
Righteous government gives permanence to (the fame of) kings; without that their fame will have no endurance.

557
As lack of rain to thirsty lands beneath,
Is lack of grace in kings to all that breathe.
As is the world without rain, so live a people whose king is without kindness.

558
To poverty it adds a sharper sting,
To live beneath the sway of unjust king.
Property gives more sorrow than poverty, to those who live under the sceptre of a king without justice.

559
Where king from right deflecting, makes unrighteous gain,
The seasons change, the clouds pour down no rain.
If the king acts contrary to justice, rain will become unseasonable, and the heavens will withhold their showers.

560
Where guardian guardeth not, udder of kine grows dry,
And Brahmans' sacred lore will all forgotten lie.
If the guardian (of the country) neglects to guard it, the produce of the cows will fail, and the men of six duties viz., the Brahmins will forget the vedas.