Following is the translation of Thirukkural, a discourse on ethics, its author is Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, who lived around 3rd Century. Its translation is done by Mr. NV Subbaraman, he lives in Chennai.
Chapter 56
CRUEL TYRANNY
அதிகாரம் 56
கொடுங்கோன்மை
~*~
Original
கொலைமேற்கொண் டாரிற் கொடிதே அலைமேற்கொண்டு
அல்லவை செய்து ஒழுகும் வேந்து.
Pronunciation
KolaimaerkoN daarir kodidhae alaimaerkoNdu
Allavai seydhu ozugum vaendhu.
Translation
The unjust tyrant
Oppressor indeed is worse
Than a murderer.
Comment
A king / ruler under desires govern not according to the laws and principles and oppresses his subjects is indeed worse than a cruel murderer.
~*~
Original
வேலொடு நின்றான் இடுஎன் றதுபோலும்
கோலொடு நின்றான் இரவு.
Pronunciation
Vaelodu nindraan iduen radhupoalum
Klodu nindraan iravu.
Translation
Scepter wielding king
Extracting from the subjects
Akin to a thief.
Comment
A king / ruler extracting materials unjustly from his subjects is akin to a robber with a lance demanding the belongings of a passers by.
~*~
Original
நாள்தொறும் நாடி முறைசெய்யா மன்னவன்
நாள்தொறும் நாடு கெடும்..
Pronunciation
NaaL dhorum naadi muraiseyyaa mannavan
NaaLdhorum naadu kedum.
Translation
King who rules not just
Takes not action on the wrong
His rule damaged right.
Comment
The king who does not rule in a just and proper manner and punishes not the wrong doers, his country gets damaged every day gradually.
~*~
Original
கூழும் குடியும் ஒருங்கு இழக்கும் கோல்கோடிச்
சூழாது செய்யும் அரசு.
Pronunciation
Koozhum kudiyum orungu izakkum koalkoadi
Soozhaadhu seyyum arasu.
Translation
King to lose subjects
And wealth, if scepter abused
Fails to rule fair and just.
Comment
The king whose scepter bends wrong overlooking just and nobility in ruling his Government, he loses both his wealth, and subjects together sure.
~*~
Original
அல்லற்பட்டு ஆற்றாது அழுத கண் ணீர்அன்றே
செல்வத்தைத் தேய்க்கும் படை.
Pronunciation
Allarpattu aatraadhu azhudhaka NNeeranrae
Selvaththai thaeykkum padai.
Translation
Subjects’ groaning tears
Caused by the unjust scepter,
Royal wealth gets killed.
Comment
Subjects’ tears out of their groaning caused by the tyrannous king, is the weapon that destroys the entire wealth of the king.
~*~
Original
மன்னர்க்கு மன்னுதல் செங்கோன்மை அஃதுஇன்றேல்
மன்னாவாம் மன்னர்க்கு ஒளி.
Pronunciation
Mannarkku mannudhal sengkoanmai ahudhuinrael
Mannaavaam mannarkku oLi.
Translation
Just rule gives glory
Lack of it brings woes and drives
Light of the ruler.
Comment
Glory of the king / ruler depends on the good and noble governance just and fair; if he fails he loses all his name, fame and glory.
~*~
Original
துளியின்மை ஞாலத்திற்கு எற்றுஅற்றே வேந்தன்
அளியின்மை வாழும் உயிர்க்கு.
Pronunciation
THuLiyinmai ngaalaththirkku etruatrae vaendhan
ALiyinami vaazum uyirkku.
Translation
Sans rainfall earth dries
Subjects suffer enormous
With a graceless king.
Comment
When there is no rainfall the earth gets dried and not a grain of dood can be cultivated; if a king is not just and fair and governs against the norms of noble governance, all his subjects are bound to suffer enormous woes.
~*~
Original
இன்மையின் இன்னாது உடைமை முறைசெய்யா
மன்னவன் கோள்கீழ்ப் படின்.
Pronunciation
Inmaiyin innaadhu udaimai muraiseyyaa
Mannavan koaLkeezhp padin.
Translation
Not having is good
Having has no use when king
Rules not fair and just.
Comment
When the king / ruler governs not just and fair, the subjects though rich and wealthy
Cannot enjoy what they have; hence not having is better than having but unable to enjoy.
~*~
Original
முறைகோடி மன்னவன் செய்யின் உறைகோடி
ஒல்லாது வானம் பெயல்.
Pronunciation
Muraikoadi mannavan seyyin uraikoadi
Ollaadhu vaanam peyal.
Translation
The sky gives not rain
If the king fails to rule just
But brings in all pain.
Comment
When the king / ruler fails to govern in all just and fairness, the sky does not give rain and the king only brings in pain to his subjects.
~*~
Original
ஆபயன் குன்றும் அறுதொழிலோர் நூல்மறப்பர்
காவலன் காவான் எனின். .
Pronunciation
Aapayan kunrum aruthozhiloar noolmarappar
Kaavalan kaavaan enin.
Translation
Cows yield no milk, nor
Workers six types remember
If king fails to rule.
Comment
When the ruler / king fails to do his duty of governing in a just and fair manner, cows in his kingdom fail to yield milk and the people of six vocations fail to remember what they have read and learnt.
good translation
Thanks sir.
‘Cruel tyranny’ well defined and translated!
Under the dispensation of an unjust ruler, otherwise called a thief and a murderer, even cows deny milk, rains fail altogether, and people lose all their valuable know-how, leading to total disaster of the country with loss of wealth and glory earned and gained the hard way!