Tirukural – Chapter 69
Chapter 69: Ambassadors
Verse 681
Within an ornate council chamber, the king has summoned two of his ministers. Both are attentive to him and of a gentle nature. One holds a white dove of peace. Clearly he is of a noble family, for he is highly bejeweled and refined in nature.
You can access the entire text, in Tamil and English here:
Weaver’s Wisdom
Verse 681
Kindliness, high birth and a nature congenial to kings
comprise the innate disposition of an ambassador.
Verse 682
Kindliness, knowingness and deliberateness of speech
are three necessities a diplomat finds indispensable.
Verse 683
An envoy sent to announce to lance-bearing monarchs
his own king’s imminent victory must be a pandit among pandits.
Verse 684
Send him on mission who possesses three attractive traits:
well-winnowed wisdom, modest dignity and ample learning.
Verse 685
Whatever good an ambassador procures derives from succinct
speech, cheerful conversation and avoidance of argument.
Verse 686
An envoy is educated, eloquently persuasive, unafraid of
the fiercest stare and knows what befits the moment.
Verse 687
He is unsurpassed who knows duty and place,
judges the suitable time and thinks before he speaks.
Verse 688
Integrity, influence and intrepidity–these three and truthfulness
are qualities of one who faithfully delivers his monarch’s message.
Verse 689
Commission him to deliver the monarch’s mandates
who has a steady gaze and never blurts out flawed words.
Verse 690
An ambassador fearlessly extends his king’s glory,
though he might thereby expend his own life.
One Response to “Tirukural – Chapter 69”
From Our Gurus' Teachings
Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.
January 3rd, 2022 at 5:40 pm
“AUM”!.