Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,375
Date uploaded in London – 5 November 2026
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Points to Ponder
Kural 565 refers to the interesting ghost stories from Sanskrit books such as Katha sarit Sagara etc. Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa also gave us a beautiful ghost story where a ghost was guarding Seven Jars of Gold and how a barber was fooled by it.
Kural 568 reminds us of a story from 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature; King Nannan executed a little girl for taking a mango that was floating in a stream; when all the town objected to it and came forward to give gold in Tulaa Bhaaram equal to the weight of the girl, he rejected it and killed the girl; Tamil poets vowed not to sing about him and his lineage.
Many couplets in this chapter remind us of the destruction of the arrogant Nanda Dynasty by the great Brahmin Chanakya.
Manu Smriti deals with the just rule and tyrannical rule in more detail than any other ancient law book. Relevant slokas that can be compared with this chapter occur in 7-41, 7-42, and 7-112
वेनो विनष्टोऽविनयात्नहुषश्चैव पार्थिवः ।
सुदाः पैजवनश्चैव सुमुखो निमिरेव च ॥ ४१ ॥
veno vinaṣṭo’vinayātnahuṣaścaiva pārthivaḥ |
sudāḥ paijavanaścaiva sumukho nimireva ca || 7-41 || Manu Smriti
It was through want of discipline that Vena perished, as also King Nahuṣa, Sudās, Paijavana, Sumukha and Nimi.—(7-41)
पृथुस्तु विनयाद् राज्यं प्राप्तवान् मनुरेव च ।
कुबेरश्च धनैश्वर्यं ब्राह्मण्यं चैव गाधिजः ॥ ४२ ॥
pṛthustu vinayād rājyaṃ prāptavān manureva ca |
kuberaśca dhanaiśvaryaṃ brāhmaṇyaṃ caiva gādhijaḥ || 7-42 ||
But through discipline Pṛthu and Manu obtained kingdoms, Kubera obtained the lordship of wealth and the son of Gādhi attained Brāhmaṇahood.—(7-42)
शरीरकर्षणात् प्राणाः क्षीयन्ते प्राणिनां यथा ।
तथा राज्ञामपि प्राणाः क्षीयन्ते राष्ट्रकर्षणात् ॥ ११२ ॥
śarīrakarṣaṇāt prāṇāḥ kṣīyante prāṇināṃ yathā |
tathā rājñāmapi prāṇāḥ kṣīyante rāṣṭrakarṣaṇāt ||7- 112 ||
As the lives of living beings perish by the emasciation of their bodies, so do the lives of Kings perish by oppressing their kingdom—(7-112)
Here is the ghost story link by Sri R K Paramahamsa:–
Rockefeller and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa on Desire! …
Tamil and Vedas
27 Jun 2017 — A barber, who was passing under a haunted tree heard a voice say, ‘Will you accept seven jars full of gold?’. The barber looked around, but ..
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Tirukkural Encyclopaedia -Chapter 57- Against the Reign of Terror –வெருவந்த செய்யாமை – Avoiding terrorism
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 75; Chapter 57 in Tirukkural Book- Avoiding Repression in Penal Practice- Against the Reign of Terror – Absence of ‘Terrorism’-–வெருவந்த செய்யாமை – Avoiding terrorism- Penalties
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561.He alone is a king who impartially investigates a crime, judges it according to the nature of its guilt, and awards such punishment as will act as a deterrent- A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
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561.Taking cognisance of an offence in his realm, he king makes enquiries and imposes a penalty,
Which is appropriate to the gravity of the offence and ensures prevention- S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000
***
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.- Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
***
561.A king enquires and gives sentence
Just to prevent future offence. Suddhananda Bharathiyar – SB 561
***
561.He is a leader who inquires justly and punishes appropriately to prevent recurrence- EVS Publishers, Singapore – EVS, Year 1986
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561. தக்காங்கு நாடித் தலைச்செல்லா வண்ணத்தால்
ஒத்தாங்கு ஒறுப்பது வேந்து.
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562.He enjoys a long and glorious reign, who as a judge, looks stern and severe, but really seasons justice with mercy – ANM+2
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562.The king, who desires his rule to prosper on a permanent basis should make a gesture of severity
When awarding punishment, but let the final blow fall lightly– SMD
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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 wi th strictness, and then punish with mildness. – GUP, Year 1886
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562.Wield fast the rod but gently lay
This strict mildness prolongs the sway. – SB 562
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562.Let them that want their greatness to continue begin with sternness and punish within measure – EVS, Year 1986
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562. கடிதோச்சி மெல்ல எறிக நெடிதாக்கம்
நீங்காமை வேண்டு பவர்.
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563.Swift and sure is the ruin of the monarch whose rule is a regular reign of terror- ANM+2
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563.The king, who rules with oppressive harshness and terror,
Will find that his reign ends in isolation and ruin – SMD
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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563.His cruel rod of dreadful deed
Brings king’s ruin quick indeed. – SB 563
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563.Should he be a tyrant who strikes terror, he would perish swiftly and surely- EVS, Year 1986
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563. வெருவந்த செய்துஒழுகும் வெங்கோல னாயின்
ஒருவந்தம் ஒல்லைக் கெடும்.
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564.The days of a tyrant, on whose head falls the curses of his subjects, are numbered and perishes- ANM+2
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564.When a king’s cruelty becomes a byword among his people,
He will lose his and shorten his life too– SMD
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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564.As men the king a tyrant call
His days dwindled, hasten his fall. – SB 564
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564.When people call him a cruel tyrant, the kingdom falls and the leader’s end come soon- EVS, Year 1986
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564. இறைகடியன் என்றுரைக்கும் இன்னாச்சொல் வேந்தன்
உறைகடுகி ஒல்லைக் கெடும்.
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565.Like the hoarded wealth jealously guarded by a sleepless monster, is the wealth of the king, who is hard of access and grim and fierce in his looks- ANM+2
***
565.A prince, who is harsh of countenance and offensive in speech,
Will be feared like the demon guarding his wealth– SMD
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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565.Whose sight is scarce, whose face is foul
His wealth seems watched by a ghoul. – SB 565
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565.The wealth of hi who is hard of access and fierce of favour is like that in the keeping of a fiend- EVS, Year 1986
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565. அருஞ்செவ்வி இன்னா முகத்தான் பெருஞ்செல்வம்
பேஎய்கண் டன்னது உடைத்து.
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566.Even the boundless riches of a monarch run to decay who is harsh tongued and unforgiving- ANM+2
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566.If a king is harsh of word and devoid of compassion, his great wealth of ancient origin too, will come to an unfortunate end – SMD
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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566.Whose word is harsh, whose sight is rude
His wealth and power quickly fade. – SB 566
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566.If his words are cruel and his eyes be without love, even boundless riches will not last and are lost at once- EVS, Year 1986
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566. கடுஞ்சொல்லன் கண்ணில னாயின் நெடுஞ்செல்வம்
நீடின்றி ஆங்கே கெடும்.
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567.Bitter words and heavy punishments, like the keen edge of a saw, wear away the conquering might of a sovereign- ANM+2
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567.Hard words and disproportionately severe punishments are in the nature of files,
Which wear away the king’s iron strength, intended for use against enemies– SMD
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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). – GUP, Year 1886
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567.Reproofs rough and punishments rude
Like files conquering power corrode. – SB 567
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567.Harsh reproofs and rude punishments file off the iron power of the self-willed leader- EVS, Year 1986
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567. கடுமொழியும் கையிகந்த தண்டமும் வேந்தன்
அடுமுரண் தேய்க்கும் அரம்.
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568.The prosperity of a king, who acts not in the counsel of his ministers, but frets and fumes against them, for the failure of his projects, dwindles into nothingness- ANM+2
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568.The king who does not take counsel with his ministers on affairs of state,
He rages towards failure and his kingdom will shrink– SMD
***
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. – GUP, Year 1886
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568.The king who would not take counsels
Rages with wrath-his fortune fails. – SB 568
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568.His prosperity fails and wanes who acts in a wide rage without taking counsel with good ministers- EVS, Year 1986
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568. இனத்தாற்றி எண்ணாத வேந்தன் சினத்தாற்றிச்
சீறின் சிறுகும் திரு
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569.The king, who has not built for himself a safe stronghold of defence, will, in times of war, tremble with fear and swiftly perish- ANM+2
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569.The king, who does not prepare himself in time for his defence, including a strong fortress,
When war comes, will be seized with fear and succumb quickly – SMD
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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. – GUP, Year 1886
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569.The king who builds not fort betimes
Fears his foes in wars and dies. – SB 569
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569.The leader who does not fortify his defence in time, shall die in war fearing his enemies- EVS, Year 1986
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569. செருவந்த போழ்திற் சிறைசெய்யா வேந்தன்
வெருவந்து வெய்து கெடும்.
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570.The very earth groans under the tread of a cruel sovereign, who gathers around him ignorant and wicked counsellors – ANM+2
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570.There is no greater burden for the earth to bear,
Than a tyrant surrounded by ignorant men of no worth– SMD
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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). – GUP, Year 1886
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570.The crushing burden borne by earth
Is tyrants bound to fools uncouth. – SB 570
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570.No burden is crushing to earth as the tyrant bound to the council of fools- EVS, Year 1986
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No Kural was translated by H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931- in chapters 56 and 57.
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570. கல்லார்ப் பிணிக்கும் கடுங்கோல் அதுவல்லது
இல்லை நிலக்குப் பொறை.
—Subham—
Tags- Tirukkural Encyclopaedia -Chapter 57- Against the Reign of Terror –வெருவந்த செய்யாமை – Avoiding terrorism
