Thirukkural 385 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இயற்றலும் ஈட்டலுங் காத்தலும் காத்த
வகுத்தலும் வல்ல தரசு.
Transliteration
Iyatralum Eettalung Kaaththalum Kaaththa
Vakuththalum Valla Tharasu
Modern English
“Good government must create resources, collect them, protect them, and use them wisely.”
Modern Interpretation
Good government must create resources, collect them, protect them, and use them wisely. For example, a school club can raise money, keep clear records, guard its budget, and spend it on the activities members actually need.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Good government must create resources, collect them, protect them, and use them wisely.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The able king gets, stores and guards And spends them for people's safeguards
G.U. Pope Translation
A king is he who treasure gains, stores up, defends,And duly for his kingdom's weal expends
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
He is a king who is able to acquire (wealth), to lay it up, to guard, and to distribute it
Tamil commentary
பொருள் வரும் வழிகளை உருவாக்குவது வந்த பொருள்களைத் தொகுப்பது, தொகுத்தவற்றைப் பிறர்கவராமல் காப்பது, காத்தவற்றை அறம், பொருள், இன்பம் நோக்கிச் செலவிடுவது என்னும் இவற்றில் திறமை மிக்கதே அரசு.
Chapter 39
More from The Greatness of a King
இறைமாட்சி
People, troops, wealth, forts, council, friends Who owns these six is lion of kings
Kural 382Courage, giving, knowledge and zeal Are four failless features royal
Kural 383Alertness, learning bravery Are adjuncts three of monarchy
Kural 384A brave noble king refrains from vice Full of virtue and enterprise
Kural 385The able king gets, stores and guards And spends them for people's safeguards
Kural 386That land prospers where the king is Easy to see, not harsh of words
Kural 387The world commends and acts his phrase Who sweetly speaks and gives with grace
Kural 388He is the Lord of men who does Sound justice and saves his race
Kural 389Under his shelter thrives the world Who bears remarks bitter and bold
Kural 390He is the Light of Kings who has Bounty, justice, care and grace