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The Holy Kural
Written over two millenia ago by Saint Tiruvalluvar,
translated under the guidance of Gurudeva, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Unjust Reign |
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Verse 551
More malicious than a professional murderer is the king
Who rules his people with injustice and oppressiveness.
Verse 552
The scepter-wielding king who requests a gift is like
The lance-bearing robber who demands, "Give me all you have."
Verse 553
Unless the king day-to-day seeks out and punishes unlawful acts,
His country will day-by-day fall to ruin.
Verse 554
The unthinking king who rules crookedly
Forfeits both his subjects' fealty and his own fortune.
Verse 555
Are not the tears of a people who cannot endure an oppressive reign
The instrument that wears away their king's prosperity?
Verse 556
Ruling rightly, a monarch may long endure.
Without that, his majesty is rightly unenduring.
Verse 557
As the earth fares under a rainless sky,
So do a people languish under an unkind king.
Verse 558
Possessions are less pleasant than poverty
To the oppressed living under an unjust king.
Verse 559
If the king acts contrary to justice, contrary seasons will befall
And rain-laden will not come forth.
Verse 560
If the people's protector fails to protect,
Priests will forget the Vedas and cows' milk will dry up.
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The Holy Kural
Written over two millenia ago by Saint Tiruvalluvar,
translated under the guidance of Gurudeva, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Unjust Reign |
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