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

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:21 am

2.1.19. Absence of 'Terrorism

561
Who punishes, investigation made in due degree,
So as to stay advance of crime, a king is he.
He is a king who having equitably examined (any injustice which has been brought to his notice), suitably punishes it, so that it may not be again committed.

562
For length of days with still increasing joys on Heav'n who call,
Should raise the rod with brow severe, but let it gently fall.
Let the king, who desires that his prosperity may long remain, commence his preliminary enquires with strictness, and then punish with mildness.

563
Where subjects dread of cruel wrongs endure,
Ruin to unjust king is swift and sure.
The cruel-sceptred king, who acts so as to put his subjects in fear, will certainly and quickly come to ruin.

564
'Ah! cruel is our king', where subjects sadly say,
His age shall dwindle, swift his joy of life decay.
The king who is spoken of as cruel will quickly perish; his life becoming shortened.

565
Whom subjects scarce may see, of harsh forbidding countenance;
His ample wealth shall waste, blasted by demon's glance.
The great wealth of him who is difficult of access and possesses a sternness of countenance, is like that which has been obtained by a devil.

566
The tyrant, harsh in speach and hard of eye,
His ample joy, swift fading, soon shall die.
The abundant wealth of the king whose words are harsh and whose looks are void of kindness, will instantly perish instead of abiding long, with him.

567
Harsh words and punishments severe beyond the right,
Are file that wears away the monarch's conquering might.
Severe words and excessive punishments will be a file to waste away a king's power for destroying
(his enemies).

568
Who leaves the work to those around, and thinks of it no more;
If he in wrathful mood reprove, his prosperous days are o'er!
The prosperity of that king will waste away, who without reflecting (on his affairs himself), commits them to his ministers, and (when a failure occurs) gives way to anger, and rages against them.

569
Who builds no fort whence he may foe defy,
In time of war shall fear and swiftly die.
The king who has not provided himself with a place of defence, will in times of war be seized with fear and quickly perish.

570
Tyrants with fools their counsels share:
Earth can no heavier burthen bear!
The earth bears up no greater burden than ignorant men whom a cruel sceptre attaches to itself (as the ministers of its evil deeds).

2.1.20. Benignity

571
Since true benignity, that grace exceeding great, resides
In kingly souls, world in happy state abides.
The world exists through that greatest ornament (of princes), a gracious demeanour.

572
The world goes on its wonted way, since grace benign is there;
All other men are burthen for the earth to bear.
The prosperity of the world springs from the kindliness, the existence of those who have no (kindliness) is a burden to the earth.

573
Where not accordant with the song, what use of sounding chords?
What gain of eye that no benignant light affords?
Of what avail is a song if it be inconsistent with harmony ? what is the use of eyes which possess no kindliness.

574
The seeming eye of face gives no expressive light,
When not with duly meted kindness bright.
Beyond appearing to be in the face, what good do they do, those eyes in which is no well-regulated kindness ?

575
Benignity is eyes' adorning grace;
Without it eyes are wounds disfiguring face.
Kind looks are the ornaments of the eyes; without these they will be considered (by the wise) to be merely two sores.

576
Whose eyes 'neath brow infixed diffuse no ray
Of grace; like tree in earth infixed are they.
They resemble the trees of the earth, who although they have eyes, never look kindly (on others).

577
Eyeless are they whose eyes with no benignant lustre shine;
Who've eyes can never lack the light of grace benign.
Men without kind looks are men without eyes; those who (really) have eyes are also not devoid of kind looks.

578
Who can benignant smile, yet leave no work undone;
By them as very own may all the earth be won.
The world is theirs (kings) who are able to show kindness, without injury to their affairs, (administration of justice).

579
To smile on those that vex, with kindly face,
Enduring long, is most excelling grace.
Patiently to bear with, and show kindness to those who grieve us, is the most excellent of all dispositions.

580
They drink with smiling grace, though poison interfused they see,
Who seek the praise of all-esteemed courtesy.
Those who desire (to cultivate that degree of) urbanity which all shall love, even after swallowing the poison served to them by their friends, will be friendly with them.

2.1.21. Detectives

581
These two: the code renowned and spies,
In these let king confide as eyes.
Let a king consider as his eyes these two things, a spy and a book (of laws) universally esteemed.

582
Each day, of every subject every deed,
'Tis duty of the king to learn with speed.
It is the duty of a king to know quickly (by a spy) what all happens, daily, amongst all men.

583
By spies who spies, not weighing things they bring,
Nothing can victory give to that unwary king.
There is no way for a king to obtain conquests, who knows not the advantage of discoveries made by a spy.

584
His officers, his friends, his enemies,
All these who watch are trusty spies.
He is a spy who watches all men, to wit, those who are in the king's employment, his relatives, and his enemies.

585
Of unsuspected mien and all-unfearing eyes,
Who let no secret out, are trusty spies.
A spy is one who is able to assume an appearance which may create no suspicion (in the minds of others), who fears no man's face, and who never reveals (his purpose).

586
As monk or devotee, through every hindrance making way,
A spy, whate'er men do, must watchful mind display.
He is a spy who, assuming the appearance of an ascetic, goes into (whatever place he wishes), examines into (all, that is needful), and never discovers himself, whatever may be done to him.

587
A spy must search each hidden matter out,
And full report must render, free from doubt.
A spy is one who is able to discover what is hidden and who retains no doubt concerning what he has known.

588
Spying by spies, the things they tell
To test by other spies is well.
Let not a king receive the information which a spy has discovered and made known to him, until he has examined it by another spy.

589
One spy must not another see: contrive it so;
And things by three confirmed as truth you know.
Let a king employ spies so that one may have no knowledge of the other; and when the information of three agrees together, let him receive it.

590
Reward not trusty spy in others' sight,
Or all the mystery will come to light.
Let not a king publicly confer on a spy any marks of his favour; if he does, he will divulge his own secret.