Thirukkural 555 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அல்லற்பட்டு ஆற்றாது அழுதகண் ணீரன்றே
செல்வத்தைத் தேய்க்கும் படை
Transliteration
Allarpattu Aatraadhu Azhudhakan Neerandre
Selvaththaith Theykkum Patai
Modern English
“The suffering and tears of abused people can eventually destroy an oppressor's wealth and power.”
Modern Interpretation
The suffering and tears of abused people can eventually destroy an oppressor's wealth and power. A company that underpays and humiliates staff may face resignations, boycotts, and collapse.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The suffering and tears of abused people can eventually destroy an oppressor's wealth and power.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Groaning tears caused by tyrant's sway File the royal wealth away
G.U. Pope Translation
His people's tears of sorrow past endurance, are not theySharp instruments to wear the monarch's wealth away
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Will not the tears, shed by a people who cannot endure the oppression which they suffer (from their king), become a saw to waste away his wealth ?
Tamil commentary
தவறான ஆட்சியால் துன்பப்பட்டு, துன்பம் பொறுக்காத குடிமக்கள் சிந்திய கண்ணீர்தான், ஆட்சியாளரின் செல்வத்தை அழிக்கும் ஆயுதம்.
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