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TIRUKKURAL
An Abridgement of Śāstras
R. Nagaswamy
VOLUME - II
Poruṭpāl
5.7. PORUTPĀL
Parimēlaḻakar categorizes the second part of the Kuṟaḷ into three distinct sections: kingship, elements of sovereignty, and common duties. This section is composed of seventy chapters in total. Out of these, twenty-five chapters are dedicated to the topic of kingship and the king. The subsequent ten chapters, ending with the title avai-añcāmai, discuss the ministry. Chapters 74-78 focus on Poṟuḷ, according to one perspective, while the following five chapters explore the theme of friendship. The final twelve chapters, starting from the 84th chapter, fall under the category of tuṉpaviyal, as per the same authority.
The Kuṟaḷ says:
படைகுடி கூழமைச்சு நட்பரண் ஆறும்
உடையான் அரசருள் ஏறு. — 39.1
‘An army, people, wealth, a minister, friends, fort: Six things — Who owns them all, a lion lives amid the kings.’
The Artha Śāstra prescribes: the king, minister, territory, fort, treasury, army, and friends constitute the elements of a State. He who possesses these and who follows the righteous policy is able to conquer the whole earth and is never defeated.
स्वाम्यात्यजनपददुर्गकोशदण्डमित्राणि प्रकृतयः ।
आत्मवांल्पदेशोऽपि युक्तः प्रकृतिसंपदा ॥
नयज्ञः पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां जयत्येव न हीयते ॥ (VI. I.18)
According to the Kuṟaḷ:
இயற்றலும் ஈட்டலும் காத்தலும் காத்த
வகுத்தலும் வல்ல தரசு. (39.5)
‘A king is he who treasure gains, stores up, defends, And duly for his kingdom’s weal expends.’
The kamandaka nītisāra furnishes a parallel:
न्यायेनार्जनमर्थस्य रक्षणं वर्धने तथा ।
सत्पात्रप्रतिपतिश्च राजवृत्तं चतुर्विधं ॥ (I. 20)
The four-fold functions of the king are to acquire wealth by equitable means, to preserve it, to augment it and then expend it on the deserving.
What the Kuṟaḷ prescribed:
கொடைஅளி செங்கோல் குடியோம்பல் நான்கும்
உடையானாம் வேந்தர்க் கொளி. — 39.10
‘Gifts, grace, right scepter, care of people's weal: These four a light of dreaded kings reveal’
Is corroborated by the Kamandaki. Pleasant speech, grace, gifts, protection of the poor
वाक् सूनुता दया दानं दीनोपगत रक्षणम् ।
इति सङ्गः सतां साधु हितं सत्पुरुषव्रतम् ।। (III. 2)
And the distressed, and association with men of character are recognized by the world as the right thing.
The prescription of the Kuṟaḷ is:
கற்க கசடறக் கற்பவை கற்றபின்
நிற்க அதற்குத் தக. — 40.1
‘So learn that you may full and faultless learning gain, Then in obedience meet to lessons learnt remain.’
According to the Artha Śāstra, sciences should be studied under qualified teachers and their precepts duly followed. Discipline is the fruit of learning.
विद्यानां तु यथास्वामचार्य प्रामाण्याद्विनयो नियमश्च (1.5)
In the Kuṟaḷ, it is said: (411)
செல்வத்துள் செல்வம் செவிச்செல்வம் அச்செல்வம்
செல்வத்து ளெல்லாம் தலை. — 42.1
‘Wealth of wealth is wealth acquired by ear attend: Wealth mid all wealth supremely excellent’
The Kauṭilya says: Hearing opens the door to knowledge, knowledge to right action, and right action to knowledge of one's self. This is what constitutes vidya.
श्रुतादि प्रज्ञोपजायते प्रज्ञया योगो योगादात्मवतेति विद्यासामर्थ्यं (I.V)
The Kuṟaḷ says:
அறிவுடையார் ஆவ தறிவார் அறிவிலார்
அஃதறி கல்லா தவர். (43.7)
‘The wise discern, the foolish fail to see, And minds prepare for things about to be.’
In the Artha Śāstra, he who possesses the eye of knowledge and science, is able to discern the true thing with a little effort.
प्रज्ञाशास्त्र चक्षुर्हि राजा अल्पेनापि प्रयत्नेन मन्त्रमाधातुं शक्तः (ix.ch.1)
According to the Kuṟaḷ:
அறனறிந்து மூத்த அறிவுடையார் கேண்மை
திறனறிந்து தேர்ந்து கொளல். (45.1)
‘As friends the men who virtue know, and riper wisdom share. Their worth weighed well, the king should choose with care.’
The prescription of Bharadvāja is that companions whose honesty and skill have been put to satisfactory tests shall be appointed ministers.
सहायाध्यायिनो अमात्यान् कुर्वीत दृष्टशौचसामर्थ्यत्वात् इति भारद्वाजः । (Arthaśāstra.i.8)
The Kuṟaḷ asks:
இடிக்கும் துணையாரை ஆள்வாரை யாரே
கெடுக்கும் தகைமை யவர். — 45.7
What power can work his fall, who faithful ministers. Employees, that thunder out reproaches when he errs.