Dignity over Success

We are in the midst of thirst for success.  At any cost.

In this context, there is a poem in the #Purananooru by #Vennikkuyathiyar

It goes like this:

நின்னினும் நல்லன்

வெண்ணிக் குயத்தியார்

நளியிரு முந்நீர் நாவாய் ஓட்டி,
வளிதொழில் ஆண்ட உரவோன் மருக!
களி இயல் யானைக் கரிகால் வளவ!
சென்று, அமர்க் கடந்த நின் ஆற்றல் தோன்ற
வென்றோய்! நின்னினும் நல்லன் அன்றே,

கலிகொள் யாணர் வெண்ணிப் பறந்தலை,
மிகப் புகழ் உலகம் எய்திப்
புறப்புண் நாணி, வடக் கிருந்தோனே!

Coming in the lineage of those who had mastered
the winds to sail their mighty ships on the great seas,
Oh, Karikalvalava, who, seated on charging elephants,
Showed your prowess and might for the world to see;
Having won the battle, you are great indeed!

But the one whom you defeated, let go of his life, facing North;
Gaining greater merit and attaining the greater world,
Feeling ashamed, that he was wounded on his back.

(Translation by R. Manimohan)

In the above poem, the poet says that the one who in spite of putting up a brave and valiant fight and lost, is ashamed at even a wound on his back, and lets go of his life itself, instead of living a baneful life, is far more greater than even the person who had won the war.  This shows to what extent, dignity was held over success.

Today, the one who is defeated (invariably due to back stabbing) waits to pay back his opponent in the same coin.

 

#Puranaanooru laying down the duty of the ruler to the Citizens

 

ஒரு #புறநானூற்றுப்பாடல் 

அருளும் அருமையும்!

-நரிவெரூஉத் தலையார்.

 

 

எருமை அன்ன கருங்கல் இடைதோறும்,
ஆனிற் பரக்கும் யானைய, முன்பின்,
கானக நாடனை நீயோ, பெரும!
நீயோர் ஆகலின், நின் ஒன்று மொழிவல்;
அருளும் அன்பும் நீக்கி நீங்கா       
நிரயம் கொள்பவரொடு ஒன்றாது காவல்,
குழவி கொள்பவரின் ஓம்புமதி!
அளிதோ தானே, அது பெறல் அருங் குரைத்தே!

 

O King, endowed with a kingdom, 

with thick forests where elephants roam around,

like cows among rocks, that are buffalo dark;

You are blessed; hence you may note;

Indulge not with those who have neither love nor grace

And are eternally immersed in sorrow;

Tender the citizens like a mother would her babes;

For, such an honour, is hard to gain.

 (Translation by R. Manimohan, Coimbatore)

 

In the above poem in Purananooru, the poet, Nariveruthalayar, says that the ordinary citizens are vulnerable among people without love or grace and as a result are always prone to suffering themselves and are therefore like the cows amidst hard rocks, where they have hardly nothing to grace and like elephants who have to live in risky forests.  Hence, the poet asks the King to keep away from the rotten folk and take protective care of his citizens like a mother lovingly takes care of her children, because such an opportunity is very hard to get.

Even in a democracy, where monarchy is no more in vogue, the responsibility of a Government remains the same.