"Good news, Your Majesty. The size of their armed forces is not even half of ours" said the Minister.
"So, it will be easy for us to trounce them in a war!" said Manivarma, feeling excited.
"Perhaps!" said the Minister.
"What is the catch? Do you think that some other country will come to the aid of Mullaivanam, in case of a war?"
"No way, Your Majesty! There is not one other country in our neighbourhood that has the courage to trigger our enmity."
"Then, why do you have doubts about our ability to defeat Mullaivanam in a war?" asked Manivarma.
"Our spies have found that Singavarma, the King of Mullaivanam has certain strengths" said the Minister, reluctantly.
"Our spies have found that Singavarma, the King of Mullaivanam has certain strengths" said the Minister, reluctantly.
"What strengths? I have heard that Singavarma has a good physique. But I am not going to engage in a wrestling match with him!" quipped Manivarma.
"Your Majesty, please listen to me patiently and then take a decision on going to war with Mullaivanam" pleaded the Minister.
"Go ahead, Minister! You know that I always respect your counsel."
"The strengths I referred to are Singavarma's traits. First, his courage. While all other small nations in our neighbourhood have subjugated themselves to us and been paying a ransom, Singavarma has been refusing to submit to our might. He doesn't feel intimidated by our threat to invade his country.
"The strengths I referred to are Singavarma's traits. First, his courage. While all other small nations in our neighbourhood have subjugated themselves to us and been paying a ransom, Singavarma has been refusing to submit to our might. He doesn't feel intimidated by our threat to invade his country.
"Second, his munificence. He lives a simple life and uses his wealth to help the poor people of his country, He has given strict instructions to his officials to ensure that no citizen suffers from starvation. In fact, our spies were amazed to discover that he had warned his officials that if Singavarma came to know of any of his citizens starving, he would go without food too! I have heard several scholars from various countries who had visited Mullaivanam describe Singavarma as a man of wisdom. I consider this to be his third trait."
"In that aspect, I am not lagging behind Singavarma" interjected Manivarma, with a smirk on his face.
"Your Majesty!" exclaimed the minister.
"Yes, Minister. I don't know whether I have the wisdom to match that of Singavarma. But I have the counsel of a minister whose wisdom is as good as that of Singavarma, if not better than his" said Manivarma, his smile broadening.
"I feel humbled, Your Majesty. What can I say about your humility! It is my good fortune that an emperor who has conquered many a country through his might and war strategy listens to the views of a simple man like me" said the Minister, overwhelmed by the King's praise.
"Proceed, Minister! What other traits does Singavarma have? How are these traits going to help him in fighting a war?"
"Proceed, Minister! What other traits does Singavarma have? How are these traits going to help him in fighting a war?"
"I wanted to mention four of his traits I consider significant. Wise men have said that it is difficult to subdue a person having these four traits. It is because you possess these traits yourself that you have become an emperor, despite the fact that our country is small in size."
"Enough of praising me, Minister. As I said, it is because I have a wise man like you as my minister. You have not yet told me what the fourth trait is!"
"The fourth trait is perseverance. Singavarma's father died when Singavarma was a child. His uncle banished him from the country and became the king. After Singavarma grew up to be a youth, he made efforts to dethrone his uncle by mobilizing a secret army and fighting him. Though he had failed in his initial attempts, he persisted in his efforts and succeeded ultimately."
"The four traits Singavarma has, support him like four pillars supporting a superstructure. Therefore, though his army is not strong, we can't defeat him in a war. This is the message you are trying to convey, aren't you?" asked King Manivarma.
"Your Majesty! You have proved that my praising your wisdom was not flattery."
"Your Majesty! You have proved that my praising your wisdom was not flattery."
"Not yet. But, I am going to prove it. I am going to befriend Singavarma who has these four valuable traits and make his country Mullaivanam, an ally of our country!" said Manivarma.
Thirukkural
Section 2
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 39
The Might of a Ruler
Verse 381 (in Tamil):The Might of a Ruler
anjAmai Igai aRivu Ukkam inAngum
enJamai vEndhrkku iyalbu.
Meaning:
Fearlessness, munificence, wisdom and perseverance are the four traits required of a king.
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'padaiyeduppu' by the same author.)
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