Chapter 52: Selection and Employment

நன்மையும் தீமையும் நாடி நலம்புரிந்த
தன்மையான் ஆளப் படும்.

Nanmaiyum Theemaiyum Naati Nalampurindha
Thanmaiyaan Aalap Patum

Employ the wise who will discern The good and bad and do good turn

Meaning: He should be employed (by a king), whose nature leads him to choose the good, after having weighed both the evil and the good in any undertaking

வாரி பெருக்கி வளம்படுத்து உற்றவை
ஆராய்வான் செய்க வினை.

Vaari Perukki Valampatuththu Utravai
Aaraaivaan Seyka Vinai

Let him act who resource swells; Fosters wealth and prevents ills

Meaning: Let him do (the king's) work who can enlarge the sources (of revenue), increase wealth and considerately prevent the accidents (which would destroy it)

அன்பறிவு தேற்றம் அவாவின்மை இந்நான்கும்
நன்குடையான் கட்டே தெளிவு.

Anparivu Thetram Avaavinmai Innaankum
Nankutaiyaan Katte Thelivu

Trust him in whom these four you see: Love, wit, non-craving, clarity

Meaning: Let the choice (of a king) fall upon him who largely possesses these four things, love, knowledge, a clear mind and freedom from covetousness

எனைவகையான் தேறியக் கண்ணும் வினைவகையான்
வேறாகும் மாந்தர் பலர்.

Enaivakaiyaan Theriyak Kannum Vinaivakaiyaan
Veraakum Maandhar Palar

Though tried and found fit, yet we see Many differ before duty

Meaning: Even when (a king) has tried them in every possible way, there are many men who change, from the nature of the works (in which they may be employed)

அறிந்தாற்றிச் செய்கிற்பாற்கு அல்லால் வினைதான்
சிறந்தானென்று ஏவற்பாற் றன்று.

Arindhaatrich Cheykirpaarku Allaal Vinaidhaan
Sirandhaanendru Evarpaar Randru

Wise able men with power invest Not by fondness but by hard test

Meaning: (A king's) work can only be accomplished by a man of wisdom and patient endurance; it is not of a nature to be given to one from mere personal attachment

செய்வானை நாடி வினைநாடிக் காலத்தோடு
எய்த உணர்ந்து செயல்.

Seyvaanai Naati Vinainaatik Kaalaththotu
Eydha Unarndhu Seyal

Discern the agent and the deed And just in proper time proceed

Meaning: Let (a king) act, after having considered the agent (whom he is to employ), the deed (he desires to do), and the time which is suitable to it

இதனை இதனால் இவன்முடிக்கும் என்றாய்ந்து
அதனை அவன்கண் விடல்.

Ithanai Ithanaal Ivanmutikkum Endraaindhu
Adhanai Avankan Vital

This work, by this, this man can do Like this entrust the duty due

Meaning: After having considered, "this man can accomplish this, by these means", let (the king) leave with him the discharge of that duty

வினைக்குரிமை நாடிய பின்றை அவனை
அதற்குரிய னாகச் செயல்.

Vinaik Kurimai Naatiya Pindrai
Avanai Adharkuriya Naakach Cheyal

His fitness for the duty scan Leave him to do the best he can

Meaning: Having considered what work a man is fit for, let (the king) employ him in that work

வினைக்கண் வினையுடையான் கேண்மைவே றாக
நினைப்பானை நீங்கும் திரு.

Vinaikkan Vinaiyutaiyaan Kenmaive Raaka
Ninaippaanai Neengum Thiru

Who do duty for duty's sake Doubt them; and fortune departs quick

Meaning: Prosperity will leave (the king) who doubts the friendship of the man who steadily labours in the discharge of his duties

நாடோறும் நாடுக மன்னன் வினைசெய்வான்
கோடாமை கோடா துலகு.

Naatorum Naatuka Mannan Vinaiseyvaan
Kotaamai Kotaa Thulaku

Worker straight the world is straight The king must look to this aright

Meaning: Let a king daily examine the conduct of his servants; if they do not act crookedly, the world will not act crookedly