Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Royalty (அரசியல்) — The Cruel Sceptre (கொடுங்கோன்மை)

Kural 551:
கொலைமேற்கொண் டாரிற் கொடிதே அலைமேற்கொண்டு
அல்லவை செய்தொழுகும் வேந்து.
kolaimaeRkoN taariR kotidhae alaimaeRkondu
allavai seydhozhukum vaendhu
English couplet:
Than one who plies the murderer's trade, more cruel is the king
Who all injustice works, his subjects harassing.
Explanation: The king who gives himself up to oppression and acts unjustly (towards his subjects) is more cruel than the man who leads the life of a murderer.

Kural 552:
வேலொடு நின்றான் இடுவென் றதுபோலும்
கோலொடு நின்றான் இரவு.
vaelotu nindraan iduven Radhupoalum
koalodu nindraan iravu
English couplet:
As 'Give' the robber cries with lance uplift,
So kings with sceptred hand implore a gift.
Explanation: The request (for money) of him who holds the sceptre is like the word of a highway robber who stands with a weapon in hand and says "give up your wealth".

Kural 553:
நாடொறும் நாடி முறைசெய்யா மன்னவன்
நாடொறும் நாடு கெடும்.
naatoRum naati muRaiseyyaa mannavan
naatoRum nhaadu kaedum
English couplet:
Who makes no daily search for wrongs, nor justly rules, that king
Doth day by day his realm to ruin bring.
Explanation: The country of the king who does not daily examine into the wrongs done and distribute justice, will daily fall to ruin

Kural 554:
கூழுங் குடியும் ஒருங்கிழக்கும் கோல்கோடிச்
சூழாது செய்யும் அரசு.
koozhunG kutiyum orungizhakkum koalkoatich
soozhaadhu seyyum arasu
English couplet:
Whose rod from right deflects, who counsel doth refuse,
At once his wealth and people utterly shall lose.
Explanation: The king, who, without reflecting (on its evil consequences), perverts justice, will lose at once both his wealth and his subjects.

Kural 555:
அல்லற்பட்டு ஆற்றாது அழுதகண் ணீரன்றே
செல்வத்தைத் தேய்க்கும் படை.
allaRpattu aatraadhu azhudhakaN Neerandrae
selvaththaith thaeykkum padai
English couplet:
His people's tears of sorrow past endurance, are not they
Sharp instruments to wear the monarch's wealth away?.
Explanation: Will not the tears, shed by a people who cannot endure the oppression which they suffer (from their king), become a saw to waste away his wealth ?.

Kural 556:
மன்னர்க்கு மன்னுதல் செங்கோன்மை அஃதின்றேல்
மன்னாவாம் மன்னர்க் கொளி.
mannarkku mannudhal sengoanmai aqdhindrael
mannaavaam mannark koaLi
English couplet:
To rulers' rule stability is sceptre right;
When this is not, quenched is the rulers' light.
Explanation: Righteous government gives permanence to (the fame of) kings; without that their fame will have no endurance.

Kural 557:
துளியின்மை ஞாலத்திற்கு எற்றற்றே வேந்தன்
அளியின்மை வாழும் உயிர்க்கு.
thuLiyinmai GnaalaththiRku etratrae vaendhan
aLiyinmai vaazhum uyirkku
English couplet:
As lack of rain to thirsty lands beneath,
Is lack of grace in kings to all that breathe.
Explanation: As is the world without rain, so live a people whose king is without kindness.

Kural 558:
இன்மையின் இன்னாது உடைமை முறைசெய்யா
மன்னவன் கோற்கீழ்ப் படின்.
inmaiyin innaadhu udaimai muRaiseyyaa
mannavan koaRkeezhp patin
English couplet:
To poverty it adds a sharper sting,
To live beneath the sway of unjust king.
Explanation: Property gives more sorrow than poverty, to those who live under the sceptre of a king without justice.

Kural 559:
முறைகோடி மன்னவன் செய்யின் உறைகோடி
ஒல்லாது வானம் பெயல்.
muRaikoati mannavan seyyin uRaikoati
ollaadhu vaanam peyal
English couplet:
Where king from right deflecting, makes unrighteous gain,
The seasons change, the clouds pour down no rain.
Explanation: If the king acts contrary to justice, rain will become unseasonable, and the heavens will withhold their showers.

Kural 560:
ஆபயன் குன்றும் அறுதொழிலோர் நூல்மறப்பர்
காவலன் காவான் எனின்.
aapayan kundrum aRudhozhiloar noolmaRappar
kaavalan kaavaan enin
English couplet:
Where guardian guardeth not, udder of kine grows dry,
And Brahmans' sacred lore will all forgotten lie.
Explanation: If the guardian (of the country) neglects to guard it, the produce of the cows will fail, and the men of six duties viz., the Brahmins will forget the vedas.