737. The Crown Prince

When Santhavi was conversing with her son Ananthan, Karuvelar came there.

"Madam! The time has come for your son to climb the throne" he said enthusiastically.

"What do you mean, respected Karuvelar? Has my brother-in-law Marudhan become reformed, accepted that my son is the rightful heir to the throne and invited him to get crowned as a king?" asked Santhavi, in a sarcastic tone.

"Will Marudhan ever reform himself? That venomous snake was so power hungry that he even made an attempt on the life of the young prince!" said Karuvelar, with indignation.

"After the sudden demise of my husband, the King, his brother Marudhan assumed power as the acting King, since Santhan was a boy at that time. He fooled all of us by promising us that he would hand over the throne to Santhan, when the boy attained the age of 12, but hatched a conspiracy to kill Ananthan. You thwarted his assassination attempt, safely brought Santhan and me to this place situated on the border of our country and sheltered us here. From that time, you have been protecting us. Now, when you make an unexpected announcement that the time has come for Santhan to climb the throne, I am perplexed, sir" said Santhavi. 

"Madam! As you are well aware, people residing in this region have not accepted Marudhan as their King, since he usurped power using deceitful means. They consider Ananthan as their King and have been protecting the two of you, from the time you took up residence here. That was the reason I chose this place as a safe shelter for the prince and you. People of this region have refused to pay taxes to Marudhan's government. They have been running a local government, by collecting taxes from the people of this region. When Marudhan sent his troops here to capture you and the prince, the people of this region offered stiff resistance and prevented the troops from entering the region. Fearing that attacking this region would cause a lot of bloodshed which, in turn, would trigger widespread resentment against Marudhan throughout the country, Marudhan asked his troops to retreat. He never tried to send his troops again. He has also accepted the independent functioning of this region as a fait accompli. Now, the people of this region want to formally declare it as an independent country and they want our prince to be crowned the King of this country" said Karuvelar.

Santhavi closed her eyes and remained silent for a while.

"What are you thinking, Madam? Are you feeling sad that your son who should be ruling the entire country is going to be crowned the King of a small region?"

"No, sir! I am reflecting how this region has been blessed to possess the requirements of an ideal country. This region has a regular rainfall every year, which helps the crops to grow and thereby bring prosperity to the people living here. This region also has abundant ground water, which caters to the needs of the people throughout the year. There is an array of mountains on one side of this region. The streams coming from the mountain enrich the soil. This region is nurtured by mother nature, like a child would be by its mother. This region is well protected with the mountains on one side, forests on two sides and a river on the fourth side, all serving as protective walls. Thinking that this wonderful region is going to be declared a country and that my son is going to be crowned the king of this privileged country, I am overwhelmed with joy. Though small, this is an ideal country. I am grateful to you and the people of this region for choosing my son to lead this country" said Santhavi, with tears of joy falling from her eyes.

Thirukkural

Materialism

Chapter 74
The Country

Verse 737 (in Tamil):
iru punalum vAyndha malaiyum varu punalum
val araNum nAttiRku uRuppu.

Meaning:

The constituents of a kingdom are the two sources of waters (rain and ground water), well situated hills, streams emanating from the hills, and an indestructible fort.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mazhai vaLamum maN vaLamum' by the same author.) 

Verse 736
Verse 734

204. The Missed Message

The end of the month was nearing. There was a sizeable gap for Sekar to reach the monthly target. 

As Sekar was wondering how he was going to reach the target in two days, the Branch Manager called him over the intercom.

Sekar knew that the Branch Manager had called him, only to talk to him about his having not reached the monthly target. He walked towards the Branch Manager's cabin, feeling low in spirits.

When he came out of the Branch Manager's cabin after half an hour, he was even more depressed.

Only after returning to his desk and sitting down did Sekar realize that while going to the Branch Manager's cabin, he had left his mobile phone on his desk, forgetting to take it with him.

He picked up the phone and checked. There were no new messages or calls.

After lunch, Sekar called a number of prospects, using the office telephone. No one seemed to be interested in taking up an insurance policy.

By 5 o' clock, Sekar felt exhausted both physically and mentally. Devoid of all energy, he sank in his seat.

His mobile phone rang. It was his friend Sudarshan.

"Did you meet the gentleman?" asked Sudarshan.

"Which gentleman?" asked Sekar, perplexed by the question. 

"Did you not read my message?"

"What message? I didn't receive any. When did you send it?"

"At about 1 o' clock. A person known to me wanted to take an insurance policy. He was planning to pay an annual premium of three lakh rupees. Since I was in a meeting, I sent his number to him, asking you to contact him."

Even as Sudarshan was talking, Sekar located the message sent by Sudarshan. 

Ok. I will call him" said Sekar and ended the conversation.

It was clear to him that when he had left his mobile on his desk and went to see the Branch Manager, someone, hearing the notification sound for a new message, should have clicked his phone and read the message. That was how the message was not highlighted when he saw his phone, leading to his missing the message.

He called the phone number given by Sudarshan and introduced himself. 

"Well, you came in the afternoon, got my signatures on the forms and took the cheque for the premium. What do you want now?" asked the person on the other side of the phone, showing his annoyance.

"Sir! My friend Sudarshan had referred you to me. My name is Sekar."

"Yes. I told Sudarshan about my plan to take a policy. He said a person from your company would contact me. He told me your name. But, I didn't remember it. Someone from your company called me up, came to my house and got the policy. Just a minute. He gave his card. I will check...His name is Thanikachalam."

"Thank you, sir. Sorry for the disturbance" said Sekar and ended the conversation.

He was struck by a mix of anger, disappointment and helplessness.

He remembered that Thanikachalam was sitting at the adjacent desk, when he left for the Branch Manager's cabin. Hearing the sound of the notification of a new message, he would have taken his phone, opened the message and read it. Seeing a golden opportunity, he would have taken advantage of it.

This was not the first time that Thanikachalam indulged in such practices. There have been complaints against him already about his stealing prospects from other insurance agents, using unfair means. But, till now, no action was taken against him, since the allegations against him were not proved.

This was the first time that he crossed paths with Sekar. 

Sekar cursed himself for keeping his mobile phone on his desk, while going to the Branch Manager's cabin. He felt a surge of anger against Thanikachalam, for depriving him of an excellent opportunity, at a time, when he was struggling to reach his monthly target.

If he complained to the office against Thanikachalam, people would laugh at him. He couldn't produce any evidence against Thanikachalam. 

'There is no way I can punish Thanikachalam. I am helpless. God should punish him. May Thanikachalam meet with an accident while riding his bike and lie on an hospital bed for a couple of months!'

'Oh, what a heinous thought!' He checked himself immediately.

His mobile phone rang. It was his wife.

The moment he picked up the call, she began to lament in a loud voice,"I have lost the golden chain of eight sovereigns worn by me on my neck. When I was walking on the street, a person riding a bike snatched my chain." She began to cry.

Sekar was not sure which was the overwhelming emotion felt by him - anger or grief.

"Why did you roam on the streets wearing an eight sovereign chain? Will you always remain stupid? Did you give a police complaint?" he asked, venting out his anger, even while suppressing his tone, since there were other people nearby.

"It happened just now and I called you immediately. Please come home immediately. You need to come with me to the police station."

Sekar disconnected the call, even before she had completed the sentence.

'Oh, God! Why are such things happening to me?'

He recalled his thought a few minutes back, wishing that Thanikachalam meet with an accident and lie on an hospital bed. 

'Is it because I had wished something bad for another person that a bad thing happened to me? Is this a case of instant justice?' 

He sat on his seat feeling depressed, not knowing how to cope with the situation.

His mobile phone rang again. It was his wife again.

"I am coming. Why do you call me again?" he burst out in anger.

"You don't have to come. I got back the chain" said his wife, calmly.

"Got back the chain! How?" asked Sekar, unable to believe his ears.

"The security guard of a nearby house saw the chain snatcher pulling the chain from my neck. He seems to have served in the army. He intercepted the chain snatcher, by blocking on his way. The chain snatcher dropped the chain and rode away. Thank God, I don't have to go to the police station. Only thing is that the chain has to be soldered..."

He didn't hear his wife any further.

'Oh, God! What has happened? Even for wishing something bad for a person who caused me harm, I received an instant punishment by way of the loss of a chain. But, relief was also given immediately. Perhaps, this incident was intended to be a warning to me. Is it conveying me the message that I shouldn't wish any harm, even to a person who has harmed me?'

He wonderd.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 21
Dread of Evil Deeds

Verse 204 (In Tamil)

maRandhum piRan kedu sUzhaRka sUzhin
aRam sUzham sUzhndhavan kEdu.

Meaning:

One shouldn't wish any harm to another, even unconsciously. If one does, righteousness will decide to inflict harm to the one who harbours such a wish.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thavaRa vitta seydhi' by the same author)

Verse 205(Soon)
Verse 203

203. Lakshmi's Philosophy

After Murthy's elder brother Selvam had passed away, Murthy wanted to manage Selvam's lands, along with his own. But Selvam's wife Lakshmi did not agree to his proposal.

Lakshmi never stepped out of her house, during the time Selvam was alive. But, after Selvam's demise, she sat on the pial of her house and munching betel leaves spiced with lime and betel nut, directed the men employed by her for carrying out agricultural activities in the lands inherited by her from her late husband. 

"Sister in law! You don't know anything about farming. You won't be able to manage the lands. Sit at home and relax. I will look after your lands and deliver the harvest to your home" said Murthy.

"Don't bother, brother in law! You may look after your lands and I will look after mine" said Lakshmi, tersely. 

After that, Murthy began to give trouble to Lakshmi in various ways. Lakshmi thwarted his attempts, even without getting down from the pial of her house. 

One night, Murthy diverted the water from Lakshmi's field to his field. Lakshmi's men came to her and reported this.

"Take the Vilage Headman to the field and show him what Murthy has done" said Lakshmi. 

Accordingly, Lakshmi's men took the Village Headman to the field and showed the violation to him. The Village Headman imposed a fine of hundred rupees on Murthy.

"This is not adequate, madam. We need to retaliate. If you permit us, we will ensure that water flow to Murthy's fields is stopped completely. No one can prove that it was done by us" said one of her men. 

"No need for such steps. The humiliation of paying a fine should be adequate punishment to him" said Lakshmi. 

But, Murthy was not put down by the humiliation suffered by him. He became even more infuriated. Like a wounded tiger waiting to strike, he was planning to hurt Lakshmin in a big way. 

When Lakshmi's fields were ready for harvest, Murthy set fire to the crops, during the night. Someone saw Murthy setting fire and caught him red-handed.

Some villagers knocked at the door of Lakshmi's house during the night and conveyed the news to her.

"Okay. It is good that the fire was extinguished. I would like to meet the person who put out the fire and thank him" said Lakshmi. 

"Murthy had been creating trouble for you, since long. But, today, he was caught red-handed. We should make a complaint to the police. He will be imprisoned at least for six months" said a villager. 

"I don't want to give a police complaint. After all, the fire was put out and the crops have been saved. Let us leave the matter at this stage" said Lakshmi.

"Don't you think that the person who committed a wrong should be punished?" asked the villager in surprise.

"If Murthy is imprisoned, he won't be the only person punished. After he goes to jail, won't his wife and children undergo suffering? I know about the sufferings of a single mother. If you are still holding him, please set him free and let him go home."

"You are living up to your name 'Lakshmi.' You are indeed the embodiment of Lakshmi, the Goddess of compassion and grace. You may not be educated, but you have the wisdom of great people" said an old man from the village.

"What wisdom do I have? I just think that I should not cause any harm to any other person. Except for that, I don't know anything" said Lakshmi.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 21
Dread of Evil Deeds

Verse 203 (In Tamil)

aRivinuL ellAm thalai enba thIya
seRuvArkkum seyyA vidal.

Meaning:

Those who refrain from doing harm even to those who do harm to them are the wisest among the wise.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'latchumikkuth therindha niyAyam' by the same author)

Verse 204
Verse 202

736. A New Beginning

Kalivaradhan, the King of Sundara country, who had been displaying a hostile attitude towards Salya country for long, suddenly sent a goodwill message to Magizhvanan, the King of Salya, expressing his desire to establish a peaceful relationship between the two countries.

Magizhvanan welcomed the proposal of Kalivaradhan, and invited him to visit his country.

Accepting Magizhvanan's invitation, Kalivaradhan visited Salya country.

Magizhvanan received Kalivaradhan warmly. Even before the two kings could sit together for talks, Magizhvanan took Kalivaradhan on a tour of his country.

"King Magizhvanan! I visited your country, only to discuss with you in person, the issues between us and find solutions to them. But you have taken me on a tour to various regions of your country!" said Kalivaradhan, appreciating Magizhvanan's gesture.

"King Kalivaradhan! What is your impression of our country?" asked Magizhvanan, with a smile.

"Your country is prosperous. I could see that the people are happy, energetic and enthusiastic. I observed that agricultural and manufacturing activities were on full swing."

Observing that Kalivaradhan's face expression suddenly turned sullen, Magizhvanan asked him, "What is wrong, King Kalivaradhan?"

"I could not help comparing the state of my country with yours. My country has been ravished by frequent wars. My people are gripped by poverty. You have also fought quite a few wars. How is it that your country has not been affected by the consequences of war?"

"We also suffered the consequences of wars. But we managed to overcome them. We have always tried to avert wars. We had no occasion to engage in a war with any country other than yours" said Magizhvanan, looking at the eyes of Kalivaradhan.

"I understand what you are trying to convey. I have been engaged in wars with all my neighbouring countries. It is only after realizing that my country had been devastated by frequent wars did I decide to make peace with my neighbouring countries. I have begun to make efforts to end hostilities and establish peaceful relationships with all my neighours" said Kalivaradhan. His tone betrayed a sense of remorse. 

"Whatever might have happened in the past, I commend you for your decision to desist from engaging in wars in future. You can take pride in having taken this bold decision, after clear thinking. I feel happy that we have become friends. I am confident that using our friendship and goodwill, both of us can work towards the progress of our countries" said Magihhvanan, touching Kalivaradhan's shoulder.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 74
Divining the Mind

Verse 736 (in Tamil):
kEdu aRiyAk ketta idaththum vaLam kunRA
nAdu enba NAttin thalai.

Meaning:
A country that faces no harm from its enemies and even if it does, suffers no erosion in its resources is the foremost among nations.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pagaivarum naNbargalAm' by the same author.) 

Verse 737
Verse 735

202. I Swear...

It was the last day of the training program for the newly recruited sales executives of the company.

Training Officer Markandeyan looked at the trainees, with satisfaction.

"I have no doubt that all of you would excel in your roles as sales executives. However, I would like to give you one piece of advice..."

After a brief pause, he continued. "I observed that while conversing among yourselves during the breaks, some of you were using swear words, without any inhibition. For example, 'SOB,' the word starting with 'Bas,' etc. I would appeal to you to exercise caution and ensure that such words won't slip out of your lips, even inadvertently."

"Why, sir?" asked one trainee.

There was a mild wave of laughter.

"When I ask you not to use swear words, you ask me 'why!' Such words have become so much integrated into your everyday vocabulary. I am happy that you didn't ask 'why not?'" said Markandeyan, dryly. 

"Please don't mistake me. sir. I asked you the question, only because I have been hearing a lot of people, even those considered dignified, using such words freely" said the person who asked the question, in a tone of remorse. 

"I appreciate your asking the question openly. The use of swear words can't be considered acceptable, just because a lot of people use them. First of all, you should look at the meanings of such words. Many of them are insulting to women, particularly to one's mother. When you call some X an 'SOB,' you are demeaning not X, but his mother! Is this justified? Is this not atrocious? We don't even think about it!"

"That is the point, sir. When people use a swear word casually, they really don't mean it. So, can we not consider such use harmless?"

"Some people may consider such words harmless. If you call your friend a fool, he won't mind. But you can't use that word with a stranger, your boss or even with your colleague."

The trainers were silent, expecting Markandeyan to talk more on this topic.

"Bad words are even more dangerous than bad deeds. Because, before committing a bad deed, a person will think about the consequences of that deed. But we use bad words casually. There are people who may not know a language, but will know the bad words in that language! When it comes to the use of bad words, we have no hostile feelings towards any language. What I consider most dangerous is that many people find a thrill in using swear words. Many among even cultured and respectable people find a thrill in using swear words. Everyone knows that a burning match stick or a cigarette bud should not be thrown on the ground, before fully extinguishing it. But, a lot of people throw them on the ground without extinguishing them. I have observed people watching the glow in the match stick or cigarette bud thrown away by them, with a sense of satisfaction. They will realize the gravity of their action, only if it leads to a fire accident.

"Why do you feel so strongly about this, sir?" asked a trainee.

"There is a reason for it" said Markandeyan.

After a pause, he continued.

"In the beginning of my career, I worked in a small firm. Once, I accompanied my boss when he visited the offices of some of our customers to collect the long pending payments due from them. The person I referred to as my boss was the proprietor of the firm I was working in. Payments were overdue from a particular customer, since a long time. My proprietor was upset about it. 

"During the times people from my firm visited that customer's office, the customer was not available. During our visit too, the customer was not in his office. His wife was there. When we reminded her about the long overdue payments, she replied in an indifferent way. Infuriated by her nonchalant reply, my proprietor spoke to her angrily. While venting his anger, he uttered a swear word, It was an unintended slip of his tongue. It was a word inappropriate to be used in front of woman. Don't ask me what that word was! 

"That lady took advantage of it and went on to create a scene. Hearing her shout at the peak of her voice, employees in that office came to the room, where we were sitting and discussing. My proprietor was rattled by the reaction of that lady. He realized his blunder but didn't know how to extricate himself from the situation. So, he denied using any inappropriate word. I also went to his help, by asserting that he didn't use any undignified word and that that lady might have heard him wrongly. I lied of course, but I wanted to save my proprietor from embarrassment. After a while, we managed to come out of that office. 

"After that, my proprietor never went to that office. He sent me and other employees for collection. Whenever I went there and asked the customer for the payment due to us, he raised the issue of my proprietor using a swear word against his wife and forced me to be on the defensive. Using that incident as an excuse, he persisted with his default, without feeling guilty about it.

"My proprietor cursed himself for putting himself in a position of not being able to demand the payment due to him from a defaulting customer, because of an unconscious use of a swear word by him. After that, he stopped using swear words,

"It was a lesson to me also. At that time, I decided that I would never use bad words, in any situation, whatever the provocation. The reason I am stressing this point so strongly is to impress on you that bad words can be as harmful as bad deeds. We should fear bad words the way we fear fire."

"You are the real boss, sir!" said one trainee. 

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 21
Dread of Evil Deeds

Verse 202 (In Tamil)

thIyavai thIya payaththalAl thIyavai
thIyinum anjap padum..

Meaning:

Since evil produces evil, evil should be feared more than fire.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'bAs engiRa...' by the same author)

Verse 203
Verse 201

201. An Endorsement From the Leader

"You enrolled a young man by the name Saravanan into our party recently" said Muthu, the secretary of the local unit of the political party.

"Yes, I did" said Shanmugam.

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know. I have not seen him for the past two days. What did he do?"

"He didn't do anything! That is the problem. I gave him an assignment. He has not done the job."

"He is new to the party. Why did you assign the job to him? You could have given it to me" remarked Shanmugam.

"Don't you have any brains?" shot back Muthu.

Shocked by this unexpected assault, Shanmugam looked at Muthu, with the expression of a child suddenly slapped by its parent.

Shanmugam was aware that an ordinary party worker like him could not expect to be treated with dignity by petty leaders like Muthu. However, he was perplexed by the harsh rebuke of Muthu, when there was no provocation.

 "What happened, sir?"

"The task was to thrash a person and break a couple of his bones. Obviously, it should not be known that it was done by someone belonging to our party. How can I give such a job to you, whose association with our party is known to all. I gave the job to him, thinking that since he had joined our party only recently, he won't be identified by any eyewitness. Don't I know that I could give the job to you and feel confident that it would be done by you smoothly?"

"Being new to this kind of jobs, he might have become scared. I will bring him to you. You may brief him again on how to do the job" said Shanmugam.

"No need" said Muthu. "I don't think he could do the job. I will deal with the issue another way."

"While getting enrolled in our party, I had told him that whenever required, he should be prepared to use his muscle power. Being the first time, he might be taking some time to gather the courage to do the job. He will get used to it."

"No. leave him out of it. I have seen a lot of people in my political career. Some people will talk like a thug. If someone hits them, they may hit them back. But, if you ask them to thrash or kill someone, they will hesitate. There are only a few people like you, prepared to venture into any kind of violent job, ranging from intimidating a person through threats to killing someone in a gruesome way" said Muthu.

Shanmugam could not make out whether Muthu was admiring his courage or telling him that he won't shy way from committing any cruel act.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 21
Dread of Evil Deeds

Verse 201 (In Tamil)

thI vinaiyAr anjAr vizhumiyAr anjuvar
thI vinai enum serukku.

Meaning:

Those who are used to committing evil deeds will not fear such deeds, but the virtuous will fear the wanton pride of cherished sin.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thalaivanin kObham' by the same author)

Verse 202
Verse 200

735. The Scholar's decision

The King enthusiastically welcomed the renowned scholar Kapilar, who visited his court.

"Respected Kapilar! The visit of a renowned scholar like you to our court is a great honour to us" said the King.

"Not at all, Your Majesty! I have been visiting several countries. I have a mission of touring various countries, and learning about their people and heritage" said Kapilar.

"You are welcome to stay in our country as long as you want. You may visit any part of our country. I have directed my officials to facilitate your travel arrangements and provide accommodation to you at any place you want to stay. One palace official will always be with you, to take care of your needs" said the King.

After a few months, Kapilar visited the palace again, to meet the king.

"Welcome, sir! Hope your tour was comfortable and enjoyable. Please tell me about your impressions about our country. Which country do you propose to visit next?" asked the King.

"Your Majesty! After touring your country, I have developed a desire to live in your country. If you permit me, I will spend the rest of my life in this country" said Kapilar.

"That will be a blessing to me, sir! In fact, I wanted to request you to permanently settle in our country. But, since you told me that your mission was to visit different countries and study them, I was reluctant to request you to take up residence in our country.. I am delighted by your decision to settle down in our country."

"Your Majesty! Some people call me an erudite person. But, I consider my learning to be limited. Yet, I want to share what little I have learnt with people who have a quest for knowledge and motivate them to spread what they have learnt to other people. I need a serene place to reside and carry out my mission.

"In my native country, the King's kin were conspiring against him. The King was unaware of it, but the people knew about it and lived in the constant fear of an impending instability that would result from the conspirators deposing the King. So, I left my country and went in search of a peaceful place to settle down. 

"I migrated to a neighbouring country. Soon after my leaving my native country, the conspirators murdered the King and seized power. But, with the new King distrusting his co-conspirators and feeling insecure, instability still reigns supreme there.

"In the country I migrated to, the King was strong. But, there were many groups in the country and they were fighting among themselves. Because of this, an atmosphere of perpetual unrest prevailed there. Therefore, I moved out of that country too.

"I went to another country. In that country, crimes were rife. The King's attention was entirely occupied by chasing the culprits, catching them and punishing them. He had no time or energy to look at the needs of the people and fulfill them.

"Then I came to your country. Since I didn't know how things were in your country, I told you that I had intended to stay in your country, only for a few days. But, during my tour, I found that your country is the paragon of an ideal country. The King is strong and powerful. There is unity among the people. There are no group rivalries or factional fights. As a result of your good governance, crimes have been kept under control. After learning these facts during my tour, I decided to settle down in this country and carry out my mission of imparting knowledge to interested people."

"If I am elated by your decision to settle down in our country, I am overwhelmed with joy and pride by your decision to establish a centre of learning in our country. I will ensure that you are provided with all facilities required by you for carrying out your mission of imparting knowledge to people. By choosing to stay in our country, you have honoured me and our people" said King, feeling proud.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 74
The Country

Verse 735 (in Tamil):
pal kuzhuvum pAzh seyyum utpagaiyum vEndhalaikkum
kol kuRumbum illadha nAdu.

Meaning:

A country should be devoid of multiple factions, destructive dissent, and murderous criminals who torment the rulers. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'nAdu adhai nAdu' by the same author.) 

Verse 736
Verse 734