Tyrannical Rule
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kūḻuṅ kuṭiyu moruṅkiḻakkuṅ kōlkōṭic / cūḻātu ceyya maracu.
“Whose rod from right deflects, who counsel doth refuse, / At once his wealth and people utterly shall lose.”
“Behold the thoughtless prince whose rule swerveth from the ways of justice: he will lose his kingdom and his substance also.”
A ruler who bends justice and acts without considering consequences loses together both accumulated wealth and the people who make future prosperity possible.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சூழாது கோல் கோடிச் செய்யும் அரசு= மேல்விளைவு எண்ணாது, முறைதப்பச் செய்யும் அரசன்; கூழும் குடியும் ஒருங்கு இழக்கும்= செயலான் முன் ஈட்டிய பொருளையும் பின் ஈட்டுதற்கு ஏதுவாகிய குடிகளையும் சேர இழக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A sovereign who governs recklessly without foresight and twists justice will lose both accrued treasury and the productive citizenry all at once.