The Majesty of a King
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paṭaikuṭi kūḻamaiccu naṭpara ṇāṟu / muṭaiyā ṉaracaru ḷēṟu
Among rulers, the one who possesses all six—defence, people, resources, ministers, allies, and fortification—is like a lion among them.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“An army, people, wealth, a minister, friends, fort: six things- / Who owns them all, a lion lives amid the kings.”
“He is a lion among princes who is well endowed in respect of the six things: troops, population, substance, council, alliances, and fortifications.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
படைகுடிகூழ் அமைச்சு நட்பு அரண் ஆறும் உடையான்= படையும், குடியும் கூழும் அமைச்சும் நட்பும் அரணும் என்று சொல்லப்பட்ட ஆறு அங்கங்களையும் உடையவன்; அரசருள் ஏறு= அரசருள் ஏறு போல்வான் என்றவாறு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar lists six constituent supports of kingship: army, population, provisions or wealth, ministers, alliances, and fortification; the ruler possessing all six is pre-eminent among rulers. In modern public life these become accountable institutions serving equal citizens, not a warrior caste or proof of inherited worth.