Just Rule
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
kuṭipuṟaṅ kāttōmpik kuṟṟaṅ kaṭital / vaṭuvaṉṟu vēntaṉ ṟoḻil.
Protecting and preserving the people from harm, and punishing an established offence, is not a blemish upon a ruler; it is his duty.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Abroad to guard, at home to punish, brings / No just reproach; 'tis work assigned to kings.”
“Behold the prince that guardeth his subjects from enemies both within and without: if he punish them when they go wrong it is not a blemish: it is his duty.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
குடி புறம் காத்து ஓம்பிக் குற்றம் கடிதல்= குடிகளைப் பிறர் நலியாமற் காத்துத் தானும் நலியாது பேணி, அவர்மாட்டுக் குற்றநிகழின் அதனை ஒறுப்பான் ஒழித்தல்; வேந்தன் வடு அன்று தொழில்= வேந்தனுக்குப் பழியன்று, தொழிலாகலான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a ruler must protect the people from being harmed by others and must also preserve them without harming them himself. If an offence occurs among them, establishing it and removing it through due punishment is not a blemish upon the ruler but part of his governing duty.