குறள் மேல்வைப்பு வெண்பா -3 ( the kural Stories )

குறள்  மேல்வைப்பு வெண்பா -3

Dear All ,

Thanks for the response to and the positive comments on  the first two posts  on Kural and the stories.

Now for the third in the series.

This one is from the Chapter titled   செங்கோன்மை -The Right Sceptre

The story referred to is that of the Chozha King  known as Manu Neethich Chozhan ( மனு நீதிச் சோழன் ).  The Kings son once ran over and killed a young calf and when the mother cow appealed to the King by ringing the Bell For Justice , the King ruled that justice will be served only when his son be killed in the same manner as the calf and implemented it. A fuller version of the story is given as a foot note.
A more detailed version of the story is  given as a foot  note.

Now for the poem in four lines, (குறள்  கருத்து மேல்வைப்பு வெண்பா ) with the Kural in original forming the third and fourth lines.

கன்றிழந்து கண்கலங்கும் தாய்ப்பசுவும் நீதிபெற   

கொன்றிட்டான் தேரேற்றி சோழமன்னன் - தன்மகனை .

ஓர்ந்துகண் ணோடா திறைபுரிந்து யார்மாட்டும்

தேர்ந்துசெய் அக்தே முறை.               

 

The English version by Suddhananda bharathiyar :

      Test and Attest impartially
      Consult and Act the laws justly.

The English version by Rev. Pope ;

       Searchout, to no one favour show
            With heart that Justice loves
       Consult, then act , this is the Rule
             that right approves

The meaning :

        To examine into (crimes which may be committed), to show no favour ( to anyone) , to desire to act with impartiality towards all and to inflict (such punishments) as maybe we wisely resolved on , constitute Rectitude.

I request you to  forward this to your friends so that they also may get exposed to / get reacquainted with the Tamil Classic Thirukkural.

V. Ramesh

The story  :

King Manuneethich chozhan was known for the proper dispensation  of justice to every one of his subjects, irrespective of their status , depending purely on the merits of the case. His name itself means ' the one who dispenses justice in accordance with the rules ordained by the scriptures .  He had installed, in front of his castle a bell which can be rung by anyone who wanted to  appeal for justice to the king. On hearing the bell , the King used to forthwith convene his court and hear the representation of the aggrieved and dispense justice.  
One day , the Kings only son , the Chozha Prince , was  riding in his chariot . He was being widely cheered by the crowd with drums and trumpets . A calf , upset by the loud noise , ran into the path  of the chariot and was run over  and killed . The story goes that The distressed cow, the mother of the calf, with tears in her eyes went and rang the bell. The surprised King learnt through his courtiers what has the caused the cow such distress and immediately ordered that his son also be run over by a chariot and killed so that , he , the father, is subjected to the  same  pain being suffered by the mother cow! Not for him the distinction between men and animals , for , the animals were as much the  subjects of his Kingdom as others !