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Kural 558

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iṉmaiyi ṉiṉṉā tuṭaimai muṟaiceyyā / maṉṉavaṉ kōṟkīḻp paṭiṉ.

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“To poverty it adds a sharper sting, / To live beneath the sway of unjust king.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“The condition of the rich man is more galling than that of the poor under the rule of the tyrant prince.”

Modern readingAI draft

Under the sceptre of a king who does not uphold justice, possessing wealth is more painful than having none.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

முறை செய்யா மன்னவன் கோல் கீழ்ப்படின்= முறை செய்யாத அரசனது கொடுங்கோலின்கீழ் வாழின்; இன்மையின் உடைமை இன்னாது= யாவர்க்கும் பொருளினது இன்மையினும் உடைமை இன்னாது.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Under the tyrannical rule of a monarch who ignores justice, having wealth brings greater misery and danger than living in outright poverty.