Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Ministers of State (அமைச்சியல்) — The Envoy (தூது)

Kural 681:
அன்புடைமை ஆன்ற குடிப்பிறத்தல் வேந்தவாம்
பண்புடைமை தூதுரைப்பான் பண்பு.
anpudaimai aandra kutippiRaththal vaendhavaam
paNpudaimai thoodhuraippaan paNpu
English couplet:
Benevolence high birth, the courtesy kings love:-
These qualities the envoy of a king approve.
Explanation: The qualification of an ambassador are affection (for his relations) a fitting birth, and the possession of attributes pleasing to royalty.

Kural 682:
அன்பறிவு ஆராய்ந்த சொல்வன்மை தூதுரைப்பார்க்கு
இன்றி யமையாத மூன்று.
anpaRivu aaraaindha solvanmai thoodhuraippaarkku
indri yamaiyaadha moondru
English couplet:
Love, knowledge, power of chosen words, three things,
Should he possess who speaks the words of kings.
Explanation: Love (to his sovereign), knowledge (of his affairs), and a discriminating power of speech (before other sovereigns) are the three sine qua non qualifications of an ambassador.

Kural 683:
நூலாருள் நூல்வல்லன் ஆகுதல் வேலாருள்
வென்றி வினையுரைப்பான் பண்பு.
noolaaruL noolvallan aakudhal vaelaaruL
vendri vinaiyuraippaan paNpu
English couplet:
Mighty in lore amongst the learned must he be,
Midst jav'lin-bearing kings who speaks the words of victory.
Explanation: To be powerful in politics among those who are learned (in ethics) is the character of him who speaks to lance-bearing kings on matters of triumph (to his own sovereign).

Kural 684:
அறிவுரு வாராய்ந்த கல்விஇம் மூன்றன்
செறிவுடையான் செல்க வினைக்கு.
aRivuru vaaraaindha kalvi-im moondran
seRivutaiyaan selka vinaikku
English couplet:
Sense, goodly grace, and knowledge exquisite.
Who hath these three for envoy's task is fit.
Explanation: He may go on a mission (to foreign rulers) who has combined in him all these three. viz., (natural) sense, an attractive bearing and well-tried learning.

Kural 685:
தொகச்சொல்லித் தூவாத நீக்கி நகச்சொல்லி
நன்றி பயப்பதாந் தூது.
thokachchollith thoovaadha neekki nakachcholli
nandri payappadhaanh thoodhu
English couplet:
In terms concise, avoiding wrathful speech, who utters pleasant word,
An envoy he who gains advantage for his lord.
Explanation: He is an ambassador who (in the presence of foreign rulers) speaks briefly, avoids harshness, talks so as to make them smile, and thus brings good (to his own sovereign).

Kural 686:
கற்றுக்கண் அஞ்சான் செலச்சொல்லிக் காலத்தால்
தக்கது அறிவதாம் தூது.
katrukkaN anjaan selachchollik kaalaththaal
thakkadhu aRivadhaam thoodhu
English couplet:
An envoy meet is he, well-learned, of fearless eye
Who speaks right home, prepared for each emergency.
Explanation: He is an ambassador who having studied (politics) talks impressively, is not afraid of angry looks, and knows (to employ) the art suited to the time.

Kural 687:
கடனறிந்து காலங் கருதி இடனறிந்து
எண்ணி உரைப்பான் தலை.
katanaRindhu kaalanG karudhi idanaRindhu
eNNi uraippaan thalai
English couplet:
He is the best who knows what's due, the time considered well,
The place selects, then ponders long ere he his errand tell.
Explanation: He is chief (among ambassadors) who understands the proper decorum (before foreign princes), seeks the (proper) occasion, knows the (most suitable) place, and delivers his message after (due) consideration.

Kural 688:
தூய்மை துணைமை துணிவுடைமை இம்மூன்றின்
வாய்மை வழியுரைப்பான் பண்பு.
thooimai thuNaimai thuNivudaimai immoondrin
vaaimai vazhiyuraippaan paNpu
English couplet:
Integrity, resources, soul determined, truthfulness.
Who rightly speaks his message must these marks possess.
Explanation: The qualifications of him who faithfully delivers his (sovereign's) message are purity, the support (of foreign ministers), and boldness, with truthfulness in addition to the (aforesaid) three.

Kural 689:
விடுமாற்றம் வேந்தர்க்கு உரைப்பான் வடுமாற்றம்
வாய்சேரா வன்க ணவன்
vitumaatram vaendharkku uraippaan vadumaatram
vaaisaeraa van-ka Navan
English couplet:
His faltering lips must utter no unworthy thing,
Who stands, with steady eye, to speak the mandates of his king.
Explanation: He alone is fit to communicate (his sovereign's) reply, who possesses the firmness not to utter even inadvertently what may reflect discredit (on the latter).

Kural 690:
இறுதி பயப்பினும் எஞ்சாது இறைவற்கு
உறுதி பயப்பதாம் தூது.
iRudhi payappinum enjaadhu iRaivaRku
uRudhi payappadhaam thoodhu
English couplet:
Death to the faithful one his embassy may bring;
To envoy gains assured advantage for his king.
Explanation: He is the ambassador who fearlessly seeks his sovereign's good though it should cost him his life (to deliver his message).