II. Porutpaal

II.1 Arasiyal

Athikaaram 52. Therinthu vinaiyaadal

Kural 511

Nanmaiyum theemaiyum naadi nalampurintha
Thanmaiyaan aalap padum.



English translation:

II. WEALTH

II.1 Politics and social life

Chapter. 52 Selection and employment (acting on it after knowing well)

Kural 511.

Who good and evil scanning, ever makes the good his joy;
Such man of virtuous mood should king employ.
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.


my understanding:
The one who has analysed both good and bad and then selected the better one, can act on it.


My favourites:


Kural 514:

Enaivahaiyaan thaeriyak kannum vinaivahaiyaan
vaeraahum maanthar palar.



Translation:
Kural 514:
Even when tests of every kind are multiplied,
Full many a man proves otherwise, by action tried!
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).


my underdstanding:

even though one has evaluated it from every possible way, when acting on it, it might differ for some people. (or, it might differ for different people as people are different)




Kural 517.

Ithanai ithanaal ivanmudikkum endraainthu
Athanai avankan vidal.


Translation:
Kural 517
'This man, this work shall thus work out,' let thoughtful king command;
Then leave the matter wholly in his servant's hand.
After having considered, "this man can accomplish this, by these means", let (the king) leave with him the discharge of that duty.


my understanding:

after analysing that this person can do this work, because of these reasons, that work can be given to him.


other kurals in this chapter:

Kural - 512
Who swells the revenues, spreads plenty o'er the land,
Seeks out what hinders progress, his the workman's hand.
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).

Kural - 513
A loyal love with wisdom, clearness, mind from avarice free;
Who hath these four good gifts should ever trusted be.
Let the choice (of a king) fall upon him who largely possesses these four things, love, knowledge, a clear mind and freedom from covetousness.

Kural - 515
No specious fav'rite should the king's commission bear,
But he that knows, and work performs with patient care.
(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.

Kural - 516
Let king first ask, 'Who shall the deed perform?' and 'What the deed?'
Of hour befitting both assured, let every work proceed.
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.

Kural - 518
As each man's special aptitude is known,
Bid each man make that special work his own.
Having considered what work a man is fit for, let (the king) employ him in that work.

Kural - 519
Fortune deserts the king who ill can bear,
Informal friendly ways of men his tolls who share.
Prosperity will leave (the king) who doubts the friendship of the man who steadily labours in the discharge of his duties.

Kural - 520
Let king search out his servants' deeds each day;
When these do right, the world goes rightly on its way.
Let a king daily examine the conduct of his servants; if they do not act crookedly, the world will not act crookedly.