Thirukkural 553 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நாடொறும் நாடி முறைசெய்யா மன்னவன்
நாடொறும் நாடு கெடும்.
Transliteration
Naatorum Naati Muraiseyyaa Mannavan
Naatorum Naatu Ketum
Modern English
“A government must keep examining wrongs and correcting them; if it stops, the country slowly falls apart.”
Modern Interpretation
A government must keep examining wrongs and correcting them; if it stops, the country slowly falls apart. In a student council, ignoring repeated bullying complaints can quickly make the whole school feel unsafe.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A government must keep examining wrongs and correcting them; if it stops, the country slowly falls apart.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Spy wrongs daily and do justice Or day by day the realm decays
G.U. Pope Translation
Who makes no daily search for wrongs, nor justly rules, that kingDoth day by day his realm to ruin bring
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The country of the king who does not daily examine into the wrongs done and distribute justice, will daily fall to ruin
Tamil commentary
நாட்டில் நடக்கும் தீமைகளை நாளும் பார்த்து, ஆராய்ந்து, ஏற்ற நீதியை வழங்காத ஆட்சியாளன் தன் பதவியை நாளும் இழப்பான்.
Chapter 56
More from The Cruel Sceptre
கொடுங்கோன்மை
The unjust tyrant oppressor Is worse than cruel murderer
Kural 552Sceptered tyrant exacting gold Is \"give\" of lanced robber bold
Kural 553Spy wrongs daily and do justice Or day by day the realm decays
Kural 554The king shall wealth and subjects lose If his sceptre he dares abuse
Kural 555Groaning tears caused by tyrant's sway File the royal wealth away
Kural 556Glory endures by sceptre right Without it wanes the royal light
Kural 557Dry like the earth without rainfall Is graceless king to creatures all
Kural 558To have is worse than having not If ruler is unjust despot
Kural 559The sky withdraws season's shower If the king misuses his power
Kural 560The *six-functioned forget their lore Cows give less if kings guard no more * the six functions are: learning, teaching, giving, getting, sacrificing, kindling sacrifice These are duties of Vedic savants