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Part I: On Virtue

Section I: Prologue

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Section VII: Qualities of a Country

Chapter 74: The Country

Verse 738
Here we see a contented family, abundant fields and stocks, lockers laden with gold and riches, children playing under the watchful eye of elders, and a fortress where soldiers are training. The region’s flagpole dominates the center of the compound.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

You can access the entire text, in Tamil and English here:
Weaver's Wisdom

Verse 731

Where unfailingly fertile fields, worthy men
and wealthy merchants come together--that is a country!

Verse 732

A land coveted for its vast wealth, free from calamities
and yielding in abundance is indeed a country.

Verse 733

Call that a nation which bears every burden that befalls it,
yet pays in full all tariffs owed to the king.

Verse 734

Free of famine, endless epidemics and ravaging foes--
now that is a flourishing country.

Verse 735

Proliferating factions, ruinous subversives and murderous gangs
harassing the king--a real country is free from all these.

Verse 736

An incomparable state is one never devastated;
yet if devastated, it would not diminish, but prosper.

Verse 737

Rain waters, underground waters and rivers shed from well-situated
mountains, plus strong fortresses, are features of a fine country.

Verse 738

Five ornaments adorn a country: good health, abundant harvests,
wealth, happiness and safety from invasions.

Verse 739

A land where prosperity comes easily deserves the name country,
not one where wealth entails laborious toil.

Verse 740

Even if a country acquires all these blessings, it is worth nothing
if it lacks harmony between the ruler and the ruled.