Thirukkural 445 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

சூழ்வார்கண் ணாக ஒழுகலான் மன்னவன்
சூழ்வாரைக் சூழ்ந்து கொளல்.

Transliteration

Soozhvaarkan Naaka Ozhukalaan Mannavan
Soozhvaaraik Soozhndhu Kolal

English Translation

“Ministers are the monarch's eyes Round him should be the right and wise”

Plain-English meaning

As a king must use his ministers as eyes (in managing his kingdom), let him well examine their character and qualifications before he engages them

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Ministers are the monarch's eyes Round him should be the right and wise

G.U. Pope Translation

The king, since counsellors are monarch's eyes,Should counsellors select with counsel wise

Plain-English Meaning

As a king must use his ministers as eyes (in managing his kingdom), let him well examine their character and qualifications before he engages them

தன்னைச் சூழ இருப்பவரைக் கண்ணாகக் கொண்டு அரசு இயங்குவதால் அப்படியே சூழும் துறைப் பெரியவரையே துணையாகக் கொள்க.

Chapter 45

பெரியாரைத் துணைக்கோடல்

Weigh their worth and friendship gain Of men of virtue and mature brain

Cherish the help of men of skill Who ward and safe-guard you from ill

Honour and have the great your own Is rarest of the rare things known

To have betters as intimates Power of all powers promotes

Ministers are the monarch's eyes Round him should be the right and wise

To move with worthy friends who knows Has none to fear from frightful foes

No foe can foil his powers whose friends reprove him when he errs

The careless king whom none reproves Ruins himself sans harmful foes

No capital, no gain in trade No prop secure sans good comrade

To give up good friends is ten times worse Than being hated by countless foes