Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,366
Date uploaded in London – 2 November 2026
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Valluvar says Death Sentence Zindabad! Tiruukural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 55; Just Rule; செங்கோன்மை
Points to Ponder:
Kural 546- Not bullet, but Ballot wins.
It is very relevant now. Violent struggles or draconian laws are no good when the ballot is available people can voice their views through ballots.
Kural 543—Vedas of brahmins
If Dharma has to flourish the must be a good ruler
Kural 545- rains and dharma link
It is absolutely a Hindu concept. In other cultures it will be considered a superstition; only Hindus believe that there will be rains and ggod harvest. In Tamil its said that Even if there is one Good Person there will be rains (Nallaar oruvar Ularel avar poruttu ellaarkkum Peyyum Mazai). In Ramayana we see saints are brought into towns for good rains.
Before Valluvar , Kalidasa also said it- see Raghuvamsa 5-29/33
Kural 547- Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah
Good people are protected by God ; any one upholds rule of law will never suffer.
Kural 548- Manu’s list of Bad kings
Valluvar did not mention the names. Manu Smriti named Venan, Sumuka, Nahusha who were thrown out because of their bad rule.
Kural 550- Death Sentence Zindabad; neither a Buddhist nor a Jain ;but like a Gupta king
Paritranaya sadhunam………………. Vinaasaaya Duskrtam couplet in Bhagavad Gita supports weeding out bad people. A judge who pass death sentences to scores of people is never called a sinner. He is doing his duty. In the same way kings wed out bad people.
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Go to Project Madurai website for all Tamil books; it is free and trouble free. No advertisements; no cookies!
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Following Translations are used:
1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000
3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar – SB
5.EVS Publishers, Singapore – EVS, Year 1986
6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
7.Tamil Original
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Part 73; Chapter 55 in Tirukkural Book: செங்கோன்மை ;Just Rule; The Right Sceptre; Just Government
541.Go into the details of a crime, view things impartially without being swayed by any motive; consult wise men of the realm; that is the way to administer even-handed justice – A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
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541.A fair-minded king takes cognisance of all offences, and does not lean towards anyone in rendering justice;
Where necessary, he consults men of law and awards the penalty S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000
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541
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. Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
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541.Test and attest impartially
Consult and act the laws justly. Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB
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541.Consider well, examine impartially, consult the wise; for this is the way to do justice to all- EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986
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541. ஓர்ந்துகண் ணோடாது இறைபுரிந்து யார்மாட்டும்
தேர்ந்துசெய் வஃதே முறை.
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542.Our earth is beholden unto the clouds for her prosperity. The subjects look to the sceptre for their protection – ANM+2
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542.All the world looks to the rain clouds for its sustenance;
So too, the people look up to the king for just rule– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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542.The earth looks up to sky and thrives
And mankind to king’s rod of justice. – SB 542
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542.The world looks up to the sky for its life; the subjects look up to the leaders for their welfare– EVS
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542. வானோக்கி வாழும் உலகெல்லாம் மன்னவன்
கோல்நோக்கி வாழும் குடி.
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543.Learning and righteousness flourish under the benevolent sway of a monarch —ANM+2
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543.As the ultimate basis of the Vedas of the sages, and the Dharma of wise men,
Stands the straight sceptre of a just king– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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543.The Sage’s scripture and virtue spring
From the sceptre of a stately king. – SB 543
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543.The sceptre of a leader is the stable support of the scriptures of the blessed and all the virtues enunciated by them– EVS
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543. அந்தணர் நூற்கும் அறத்திற்கும் ஆதியாய்
நின்றது மன்னவன் கோல்.
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544.The whole world is at the feet of the monarch who, with loving care, wields the sceptre- ANM+2
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544.All the world will be at the feet of the king, who rules justly and benevolently,
In accordance with the fair wishes of his people– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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544.The world clings to the ruler’s feet
Whose sceptre clasps the people’s heart. – SB 544
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544.The world clings to the feet of the great leader who wields his sceptre with love for his subjects– EVS
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544. குடிதழீஇக் கோலோச்சும் மாநில மன்னன்
அடிதழீஇ நிற்கும் உலகு.
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545.Smiling plenty and seasoning showers gladden the land of the sovereign who rules with perfect justice- ANM+2
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545.Seasonal rains and rich harvests will attend on a good king,
Who rules his land with natural justice and moral rectitude– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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545.Full rains and yields enrich the land
Which is ruled by a righteous hand– SB
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545.Rains and harvests are rich in the land ruled by the righteous sceptre of an able leader – EVS
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545. இயல்புளிக் கோலோச்சும் மன்னவன் நாட்ட
பெயலும் விளையுளும் தொக்கு
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546. It is not the javelin, but the sceptre swayed with equity, that brins glory unto the king – ANM+2
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546.Not spear that gives king’s victory,
But sceptre, if held with equity– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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546.Not the spear but the sceptre straight
That brings success to monarch’s might. – SB
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546.It is not the spear that wins, but sceptre; and that too when not deflected– EVS
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546.It is not the spear that to the king give victory;
But it is his royal sceptre, if that never crooked be H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
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546. வேலன்று வென்றி தருவது மன்னவன்
கோலதூஉம் கோடா தெனின்
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547.The armour of his subjects is the king. The armour of the king is his equity- ANM+2
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547.The king protects his realm, but he himself will be protected by his sceptre,
If he delivers eve handed justice, under difficult circumstances too– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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547.The king protects the entire earth
And justice protects his royal worth. – SB
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547.The leader shields the world; his justice shields him when unhampered – EVS
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547. இறைகாக்கும் வையக மெல்லாம் அவனை
முறைகாக்கும் முட்டாச் செயின்.
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548.The sovereign perishes by himself, who is not easy of access and does not lend a patient and listening ear to the grievances of his subjects- ANM+2
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548.The king, who is not of easy access, and does not render justice according to law and procedure,
Will by himself go into oblivion before long and perish– SMD, Year 2000
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548
Hard o f 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. – GUP, Year 1886
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548.Hard of access, the unjust king
He shall himself his ruin bring. – SB 548
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548.A leader who is hard of access, unjust, unconsulting shall bring quick ruin to him – EVS
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548. எண்பதத்தான் ஓரா முறைசெய்யா மன்னவன்
தண்பதத்தான் தானே கெடும்.
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549.To stem the tide of invasion from without and to punish the wicked to preserve the peace and happiness of the land, is no reproach to the king; but it is a duty legitimate assigned to him- ANM+2
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549.In the protection of his people, and justice delivery, by punishing the wrongdoer,
Is no blot on the king, it is his bounden duty– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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549.Save his subjects and chide the wrong
Is flawless duty of a king. – SB
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549.The leader saves his subjects from enemies and flawlessly punishes wrong doers– EVS
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549. குடிபுறங் காத்தோம்பிக் குற்றம் கடிதல்
வடுவன்று வேந்தன் தொழில்.
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550.Punishing the wicked is like removing weeds that choke the healthy growth of a sturdy plant – ANM+2
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550.When the king imposes the severest penalty on a cruel murderer,
It is like weeding the field to protect the crops– SMD, Year 2000
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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550.Killing killers, the king, behold
Weeds removes from cropful field. – SB
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550.The judge gives capital punishment to wicked killers like removing weeds from a flourishing field – EVS
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550. கொலையிற் கொடியாரை வேந்தொறுத்தல் பைங்கூழ்
களைகட் டதனொடு நேர்.
—Subham—
Tags- Right sceptre, Just Rule, செங்கோன்மை, Tiruukural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 55; Just Rule , Valluvar says, Death Sentence Zindabad
