Polity (பொருட்பால்) — The Essentials of a State (அரணியல்) — The Land (நாடு)

Kural 731:
தள்ளா விளையுளும் தக்காரும் தாழ்விலாச்
செல்வரும் சேர்வது நாடு.
thaLLaa viLaiyuLum thakkaarum thaazhvilaach
chelvarum saervadhu naadu
English couplet:
Where spreads fertility unfailing, where resides a band,
Of virtuous men, and those of ample wealth, call that a 'land' .
Explanation: A kingdom is that in which (those who carry on) a complete cultivation, virtuous persons, and merchants with inexhaustible wealth, dwell together.

Kural 732:
பெரும்பொருளால் பெட்டக்க தாகி அருங்கேட்டால்
ஆற்ற விளைவது நாடு.
perumporuLaal pettakka thaaki arungaettaal
aatra viLaivadhu naadu
English couplet:
That is a 'land' which men desire for wealth's abundant share,
Yielding rich increase, where calamities are rare.
Explanation: A kingdom is that which is desire for its immense wealth, and which grows greatly in prosperity, being free from destructive causes.

Kural 733:
பொறையொருங்கு மேல்வருங்கால் தாங்கி இறைவற்கு
இறையொருங்கு நேர்வது நாடு.
poRaiyorungu maelvarungaal thaangi iRaivaRku
iRaiyorungu nervadhu naadu
English couplet:
When burthens press, it bears; Yet, With unfailing hand
To king due tribute pays: that is the 'land' .
Explanation: A kingdom is that which can bear any burden that may be pressed on it (from adjoining kingdoms) and (yet) pay the full tribute to its sovereign.

Kural 734:
உறுபசியும் ஓவாப் பிணியும் செறுபகையும்
சேரா தியல்வது நாடு.
uRupasiyum Ovaap piNiyum seRupakaiyum
saeraa thiyalvadhu naadu
English couplet:
That is a 'land' whose peaceful annals know,
Nor famine fierce, nor wasting plague, nor ravage of the foe.
Explanation: kingdom is that which continues to be free from excessive starvation, irremediable epidemics, and destructive foes.

Kural 735:
பல்குழுவும் பாழ்செய்யும் உட்பகையும் வேந்தலைக்கும்
கொல்குறும்பும் இல்லத நாடு.
palkuzhuvum paazhseyyum utpakaiyum vaendhalaikkum
kolkuRumpum illadhu naadu
English couplet:
From factions free, and desolating civil strife, and band
Of lurking murderers that king afflict, that is the 'land'.
Explanation: A kingdom is that which is without various (irregular) associations, destructive internal enemies, and murderous savages who (sometimes) harass the sovereign.

Kural 736:
கேடறியாக் கெட்ட இடத்தும் வளங்குன்றா
நாடென்ப நாட்டின் தலை.
kaedaRiyaak ketta idaththum vaLangundraa
naadenpa naattin thalai
English couplet:
Chief of all lands is that, where nought disturbs its peace;
Or, if invaders come, still yields its rich increase.
Explanation: The learned say that the best kingdom is that which knows no evil (from its foes), and, if injured (at all), suffers no diminution in its fruitfulness.

Kural 737:
இருபுனலும் வாய்ந்த மலையும் வருபுனலும்
வல்லரணும் நாட்டிற்கு உறுப்பு.
irupunalum vaaindha malaiyum varupunalum
vallaraNum naattiRku uRuppu
English couplet:
Waters from rains and springs, a mountain near, and waters thence;
These make a land, with fortress' sure defence.
Explanation: The constituents of a kingdom are the two waters (from above and below), well situated hills and an undestructible fort.

Kural 738:
பிணியின்மை செல்வம் விளைவின்பம் ஏமம்
அணியென்ப நாட்டிவ் வைந்து.
piNiyinmai selvam vilaivinpam Emam
aNiyenpa naattiv vaindhu
English couplet:
A country's jewels are these five: unfailing health,
Fertility, and joy, a sure defence, and wealth.
Explanation: Freedom from epidemics, wealth, produce, happiness and protection (to subjects); these five, the learned, say, are the ornaments of a kingdom.

Kural 739:
நாடென்ப நாடா வளத்தன நாடல்ல
நாட வளந்தரு நாடு.
naatenpa naataa vaLaththana naatalla
naata vaLandharu naadu
English couplet:
That is a land that yields increase unsought,
That is no land whose gifts with toil are bought.
Explanation: The learned say that those are kingdom whose wealth is not laboured for, and those not, whose wealth is only obtained through labour.

Kural 740:
ஆங்கமை வெய்தியக் கண்ணும் பயமின்றே
வேந்தமை வில்லாத நாடு.
aangamai veydhiyak kaNNum payamindrae
vaendhamai villaadha naadu
English couplet:
Though blest with all these varied gifts' increase,
A land gains nought that is not with its king at peace.
Explanation: Although in possession of all the above mentioned excellences, these are indeed of no use to a country, in the absence of harmony between the sovereign and the sujects.