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
Modern English
“A leader should choose advisers as carefully as eyes, checking both their ability and their character.”
Modern Interpretation
A leader should choose advisers as carefully as eyes, checking both their ability and their character. For example, a student-group president should choose a treasurer for honesty and skill, not just friendship.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A leader should choose advisers as carefully as eyes, checking both their ability and their character.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
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
Tamil commentary
தன்னைச் சூழ இருப்பவரைக் கண்ணாகக் கொண்டு அரசு இயங்குவதால் அப்படியே சூழும் துறைப் பெரியவரையே துணையாகக் கொள்க.
Chapter 45
More from Seeking the Aid of Great Men
பெரியாரைத் துணைக்கோடல்
Weigh their worth and friendship gain Of men of virtue and mature brain
Kural 442Cherish the help of men of skill Who ward and safe-guard you from ill
Kural 443Honour and have the great your own Is rarest of the rare things known
Kural 444To have betters as intimates Power of all powers promotes
Kural 445Ministers are the monarch's eyes Round him should be the right and wise
Kural 446To move with worthy friends who knows Has none to fear from frightful foes
Kural 447No foe can foil his powers whose friends reprove him when he errs
Kural 448The careless king whom none reproves Ruins himself sans harmful foes
Kural 449No capital, no gain in trade No prop secure sans good comrade
Kural 450To give up good friends is ten times worse Than being hated by countless foes