Kural Chronicles

KURAL 691

PORUTPAAL

AMAICHIYAL

ADHIKAARAM 70 – MANNARAI SAERNTHOZHUGAL – IN THE PRESENCE OF KINGS

அகலாது அணுகாது தீக்காய்வார் போல்க
இகல்வேந்தர்ச் சேர்ந்தொழுகு வார்.

Agalaathu anugaathu theekkaayvaar polga

Igalvaendhar saernthozhuguvaar

A minister to a fickle minded king should not go too close nor move away too much. The right distance is important, much like drying yourself before a fire.

Agalaathu: not moving away;  Anugaathu: not moving close;  Thee: fire;  Kaayvaar: drying;  Polga: like;  Vaendhar: king;  Saernthu ozhuguvaar: move closely with

On reading this Kural, my first reaction was WOW!. How thought provoking and how true!

If you want to warm yourself before a fire, if you move too far away you don’t get warm; if you move too close, you will burn yourself. Similarly, working with a fickle minded king –  or in today’s scenario, leader – requires exceptional balance. You need to be close enough to have his ear and far away enough to escape his ire! What a masterful comparison!