Kural Chronicles

KURAL 660

PORUTPAAL

AMAICHIYAL – GUIDELINES FOR A MINISTER

ADHIKAARAM 67: VINAI THOOYMAI – PURITY OF ACTION

சலத்தால் பொருள்செய்தே மார்த்தல் பசுமண்
கலத்துள்நீர் பெய்திரீஇ யற்று.

Salathaal porul seythae maarthal pasumann

Kalathul neer peythiree iyatru

Storing wealth obtained by unfair means is like saving water in an unburnt clay pot.

Salam: unfair means;  Porul: wealth or object;  sey: do;  Yaemaarthal: strengthen or hoard;  Pasumann: raw clay;  Kalam: pot or vessel;  Neer: water;  Peythu: pour.

Thirukkural instructs not only the common man but kings and ministers too – about the art of governance, art of warfare, art of espionage – Kural 660 talks to ministers about ethical governance.  

If ministers were to advise kings to obtain wealth by unfair means and hoard it, it is very much equivalent to storing water in raw unburnt clay pots. What happens to the water in these pots? The raw clay mixes with the water and the muddied water seeps away. The pot disintegrates.

We would do well to understand Valluvar’s analogy here. Not only does a treasury filled wrongly not last, it will ultimately cause the downfall of the king and kingdom itself; in today’s world it translates to a leader and his state. The common man? Kural 660 holds good for him too. He will lose his peace of mind and happiness.

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