Section VII: Qualities of a Country

Chapter 74: The Country

Verse 738
Here we see a contented family, abundant fields and stocks, lockers laden with gold and riches, children playing under the watchful eye of elders, and a fortress where soldiers are training. The region’s flagpole dominates the center of the compound.

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Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 731

Where unfailingly fertile fields, worthy men
and wealthy merchants come together–that is a country!

Verse 732

A land coveted for its vast wealth, free from calamities
and yielding in abundance is indeed a country.

Verse 733

Call that a nation which bears every burden that befalls it,
yet pays in full all tariffs owed to the king.

Verse 734

Free of famine, endless epidemics and ravaging foes–
now that is a flourishing country.

Verse 735

Proliferating factions, ruinous subversives and murderous gangs
harassing the king–a real country is free from all these.

Verse 736

An incomparable state is one never devastated;
yet if devastated, it would not diminish, but prosper.

Verse 737

Rain waters, underground waters and rivers shed from well-situated
mountains, plus strong fortresses, are features of a fine country.

Verse 738

Five ornaments adorn a country: good health, abundant harvests,
wealth, happiness and safety from invasions.

Verse 739

A land where prosperity comes easily deserves the name country,
not one where wealth entails laborious toil.

Verse 740

Even if a country acquires all these blessings, it is worth nothing
if it lacks harmony between the ruler and the ruled.

Chapter 73: Not Dreading the Audience

Verse 724
A knowledgeable pundit speaks before an assembly of great scholars who admire his deep learning. Later he visits a swami who is of even greater knowledge. The pundit approaches the sage to learn more.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

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Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 721

Unsullied men, skilled in discourse, may speak unfalteringly
before the powerful, provided they understand their audience.

Verse 722

Only the learned among learned can convincingly express
what they have learned before a learned assembly.

Verse 723

Men who can brave death on the battlefield are common;
but rare are they who can face an audience without fear.

Verse 724

Speak confidently before the learned what you have mastered;
and learn from those more learned what you do not know.

Verse 725

Study the science of logic in order that
you may fearlessly reply in any assembly.

Verse 726

What can a coward do with a sword?
What can a man who fears an astute council do with books?

Verse 727

The learning of those who fearfully face an audience
is like the shining saber of effeminate men facing foes.

Verse 728

Having learned many things, men remain useless
if they cannot speak well in good assemblies.

Verse 729

Literary men intimidated by gatherings of good men
are said to be inferior to the illiterate.

Verse 730

Men whose fear of assemblies forbids them to share
their knowledge, though living, may as well be dead.

Chapter 72: Judging the Audience

Verse 719
Two elders have gathered under a shade-giving tree to speak to a learned gathering. One inattentive young visitor raises his hand to ask them to repeat themselves, and they decline.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

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Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 711

Pure men of studied eloquence should study
an audience before speaking deliberate words.

Verse 712

Let good men who know the orator’s art knowingly await
the right moment to articulate their good knowledge.

Verse 713

Failing to assess an audience before venturing to speak
is to be unaware of the way of words and remain ineffective.

Verse 714

Be brilliant before brilliant men; but assume
the dullness of pale mortar before dullards.

Verse 715

Of all good things, the best is the polite reserve
that refrains from speaking first when with elders and superiors.

Verse 716

To blunder before perceptive, erudite men
is like slipping and falling from a very high place.

Verse 717

A learned man’s learning shines the brightest
among luminaries capable of critiquing his language.

Verse 718

Speaking to an audience of thinking men
is like watering a bed of growing plants.

Verse 719

Those who speak good things to good and learned gatherings
should never repeat them to ignorant groups, even forgetfully.

Verse 720

Expounding to a throng of unfit men
is like pouring sweet nectar into an open gutter.

Chapter 71: Discerning Unspoken Thoughts

Verse 701
Here we see the Indian peninsula surrounded by emerald seas. One man looks from behind at another and is able to discern the man’s nature and thoughts without words.

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Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 701

He who can discern another’s unspoken thoughts by merely looking
is an emerald on an Earth encircled by equable seas.

Verse 702

Regard as god-like those who can divine
without hesitation what is in the minds of others.

Verse 703

Give whatever is required to gain an advisor
who, knowing his own mind, can read another’s intentions.

Verse 704

Those who grasp others’ unspoken thoughts have the same
physical features as most folks–yet how different they are.

Verse 705

Of what benefit are eyes in a body, if they cannot
by their observing powers perceive another’s intentions?

Verse 706

As a crystal mirror reflects objects that are nearby,
so the face reflects what is foremost in the heart.

Verse 707

What is more forthrightly profound than the face?
For whether the heart is angry or glad, the face expresses it first.

Verse 708

If you find a man who understands matters by looking into
the mind, it suffices to stand silently looking into his face.

Verse 709

If you find men who know the eye’s language
the eyes will speak to them of hidden hate and love.

Verse 710

Observe those who are said to see subtly with their mind’s eye–
their singular measuring rod is their eyes.

Chapter 70: Associating with Monarchs

Verse 695
A pundit sits in his chambers pondering the day. To his right two ministers are attentively listening. On his left other ministers are whispering, gossiping and ignoring his presence, thus disturbing the atmosphere.

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Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 691

Associates of contentious kings should be like men warming
themselves by a fire, moving neither too near nor too far away.

Verse 692

Do not desire to get what the king desires to have,
and the king himself will confer enduring wealth.

Verse 693

One wishing to be wary must beware of his own indiscretions.
Once suspicions are aroused, they are rarely removed.

Verse 694

In the presence of the great ones, never speak
in whispers or exchange smiles with others.

Verse 695

The emissary neither eavesdrops nor meddles into matters.
Instead, he listens raptly when secrets are revealed.

Verse 696

Sensing unspoken thoughts and ascertaining the ripe moment,
speak of vital matters amiably, without offending others.

Verse 697

Speak useful ideas that interest the sovereign.
Always leave useless thoughts unspoken–even if he inquires.

Verse 698

Never criticize the king because he is young or your own kin.
Rather respect the resplendent dignity that kingship commands.

Verse 699

Men whose wisdom is unwavering
do not use their high reputation to excuse lowly behavior.

Verse 700

Men who do unworthy deeds, expecting the king’s indulgence
because of a long-standing friendship, warrant their own ruin.

Chapter 69: Ambassadors

Verse 681
Within an ornate council chamber, the king has summoned two of his ministers. Both are attentive to him and of a gentle nature. One holds a white dove of peace. Clearly he is of a noble family, for he is highly bejeweled and refined in nature.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

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Weaver's Wisdom

Verse 681

Kindliness, high birth and a nature congenial to kings
comprise the innate disposition of an ambassador.

Verse 682

Kindliness, knowingness and deliberateness of speech
are three necessities a diplomat finds indispensable.

Verse 683

An envoy sent to announce to lance-bearing monarchs
his own king's imminent victory must be a pandit among pandits.

Verse 684

Send him on mission who possesses three attractive traits:
well-winnowed wisdom, modest dignity and ample learning.

Verse 685

Whatever good an ambassador procures derives from succinct
speech, cheerful conversation and avoidance of argument.

Verse 686

An envoy is educated, eloquently persuasive, unafraid of
the fiercest stare and knows what befits the moment.

Verse 687

He is unsurpassed who knows duty and place,
judges the suitable time and thinks before he speaks.

Verse 688

Integrity, influence and intrepidity--these three and truthfulness
are qualities of one who faithfully delivers his monarch's message.

Verse 689

Commission him to deliver the monarch's mandates
who has a steady gaze and never blurts out flawed words.

Verse 690

An ambassador fearlessly extends his king's glory,
though he might thereby expend his own life.

Chapter 68: Modes of Action

Verse 675
A man and wife have met to discuss their future plans. She hopes to build a school, and he has aspirations for a new hospital. They are pondering the choice, looking at good timing from the calendar before and examining the funds that might be available. Wisely, they are considering well all of the elements that will help them decide the right thing to do.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

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Weaver's Wisdom

Verse 671

Deliberation ends when a decision is reached.
To delay that decision's execution is detrimental.

Verse 672

Slumber when sleepy work awaits,
but never rest when actions demand sleepless vigilance.

Verse 673

Direct action is good whenever possible,
but when it is not, seek other means of success.

Verse 674

Reflect on this: efforts and enemies, if left unfinished,
can both ravage you like an unextinguished fire.

Verse 675

Before acting, resolve all doubts by pondering five points:
cost, means, time, place and the action itself.

Verse 676

Discern the outcome of an enterprise, the obstacles and the
opulent earnings that successful effort assures--then act.

Verse 677

The way to accomplish any task is to ascertain
the inmost thoughts of an expert in that task.

Verse 678

Just as one elephant may be used to tether another,
so one task may be the means of accomplishing another.

Verse 679

Before bestowing kind favors on friends,
hasten to befriend those still estranged.

Verse 680

Sensing with trepidation their peoples' fears, leaders of
minor realms bow and accept the terms of mightier rulers.

Chapter 67: Resoluteness of Action

Verse 665
Two master sculptors have just finished an amazing stone murti, which stands behind them. They are being honored by the leaders of their community. Crowds have gathered to praise their accomplishment.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

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Weaver's Wisdom

Verse 661

What is called resoluteness of action is, in truth,
resoluteness of mind. It is a quality unlike any other.

Verse 662

Avoiding all failure-prone action and remaining undiscouraged by
failures are said to be the dual directives of wise men.

Verse 663

Revealing an action after its completion is resoluteness.
Disclosing an action midway causes endless misery.

Verse 664

It is easy for anyone to speak of a plan,
but difficult indeed to execute what has been spoken.

Verse 665

Strong-willed exploits of virtuous men
win the crown's respect and the crowd's acclaim.

Verse 666

Those who think will have their thoughts fulfilled,
just as they thought, provided they possess strength of will.

Verse 667

Do not disparage men who appear small, for there are those,
seemingly insignificant, who are like the linchpin of a mighty chariot.

Verse 668

Visualize actions with unclouded clarity,
then forcefully undertake them without delay or indecision.

Verse 669

Despite dire hardships, hold to strength of mind
and do those deeds which yield joy of heart.

Verse 670

The world has no use for those who have no use for resolute
action, whatever other strengths they may possess.