683. Who Should Be the Emissary?

"We have received intelligence reports that Gandharva country is planning to invade us. Though we have the strength to repulse their attack, we should make efforts to avoid the war, considering that a war will cause hardship to the people of both the countries. What can we do to avert a war?" asked King Neethivarma.

"We can send an emissary to Gandharva country immediately to persuade the king of Gandharva against waging a war with us" said the Minister. 

"If we send an emissary, after knowing that Gandhrva country has been planning to wage a war against us, will it not make us appear weak? The King of Gandharva may even think that we are afraid to face his troops in the battle field!"

"Yes. Unfortunately, a well-intentioned move from us may be seen as a sign of weakness on our part. The King of Gandharva will be inclined to form such an impression. But, a skilled emissary will be able to dispel such an impression and make the other side realize that we are trying to avert the war, only in the interests of the people of both the countries. In fact, he can even create an impression that averting a war would be more beneficial to Gandharva country than to us!" 

"What you say is correct, Minister! So, it is essential that we choose the right person and send him to Gandharva country, as our emissary!" said the King, smiling. 

"I have an idea about who the right person is. If you agree with my choice, we can send that person as the emissary!" said the Minister, with a smile.

"I have a feeling that you and I have the same person in our minds. That person is..." the King left the sentence incomplete.

"Tell me, Your Majesty!" 

"You are that person! It is not surprising that you were reluctant to suggest your own name for the job" said the King. 

"No, Your Majesty. I had another name in my mind!"

"Who is that?"

"The Crown Prince!"

"The Prince!" exclaimed the King. "He doesn't have much experience in dealing with people. How will he be suitable for the job?"

"Your Majesty! We need to convey two messages to the King of Gandharva. One, our country has always despised war. We have strived to have friendly relationships even with countries much smaller than ours. Two, whenever we were forced into a battle, despite our efforts to avert it, we emerged victorious. The above two messages should be strongly delivered, by presenting historical evidence recorded by writers of history and by poets, who immortalized the victories by describing them in their poems. Who can do this better than our Prince, who, even at this young age, shines as an erudite scholar, by having read a number of literary works and records of history?"said the Minister.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 69
The Ambassadorial Mission

Verse 683 (in Tamil):
nUlAruL nUl vallan Agudhal vElAruL
venRi vinai uraippAn paNbu.

Meaning:

An emissary on a mission, seeking to secure a win for his country, by conveying messages to other rulers in an apt manner, must be a learned person among the erudite.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thUthu sellap poruththamAnavar' by the same author.) 

Verse 684 (Soon)
Verse 682