Tirumantiram - TANTRA ONE - 13 DEATH FAIRER THAN THE TYRANT

Tirumantiram

English translation of the Tamil Spiritual Classic by Saint Tirumular

 

TANTRA ONE

13 DEATH FAIRER THAN THE TYRANT

 

238: Death Fairer Than the Tyrant

 

The ignornant king and Death are cast in equal mould;

Nay, truth to tell, more justly than foolish King, Death claims his due;

The Witless tyrant no law obeys but in murderous fury kills

But Death, cast in finer mould, nears not the good men true.

 

 

239: Let the Ruler Observe Holy Law

 

The ignornant king and Death are cast in equal mould;

Nay, truth to tell, more The Holy Law daily in strictness observed,

If he who rules the state fails to seek the Divine Way

Day by day that land decays in folly envelopt,

Day by day that ruler's wealth declines and dwindles away.

 

 

240: Ruler's Duty Towards Men of False Garb

 

What avails the holy garb if the holy life you refuse?

Theirs the truest garb when outer guise and mind accord;

If the king justly rule the state against those who go off the holy way

Then he makes them keep the holy way

And to sure salvation their feet directs.

 

 

241: Ruler's Duty to Impious Brahmins

 

If Brahmins, from folly unredeemed, flaunt the tuft and thread,

That land droops and fades, its ruler's glory runs to waste;

So, scanning deep in Wisdom's light, the King shall clip

The thread and tuft for empty show kept and possessed.

 

 

242: Ruler's Duty to Impart Wisdom to Erring Brahmins

 

The senseless fools donning sacred thread and matted locks,

And with chanting phrases pretend to wisdom unpossessed,

Them, the ruler of state shall, with wise men's help, take and test,

And, for the country's good, impart words in wisdom drest.

 

 

243: Ruler's Duty to Protect Cow, Women and Brahmins

 

The cow, the woman, the sacred Brahmins true,

And men in holy garb whom the Devas acclaim,

These the King shall protect; if that duty he ignores,

Irredeemable his hell shall be, cursed ever his name.

 

 

244: Ruler's Share--One-Sixth of the Subject's Produce

 

If salvation high and treasures true you seek,

Then, awake or asleep, unceasing, the holy way pursue;

Know that of labour done in this sea-girt world,

To the King, in truth, one share in six is due.

 

 

245: Ruler's Duty to Defend the Territory

 

If the ruler exceeding well his state protects,

The subjects, in duty bound, to that same end incline;

When the enemy, in lust of pride, the state invades,

Then, like a leopard, leaps the King to defend his domain.

 

 

246: Ruler to Punish Drunkards

 

Breath in control held, letting inward fire upward rise,

Mind turned to Samadhi moon-sprung nectar--if they drink not,

But, like inebriates, heady liquors madly consume,

Then, such shall by ruler to just punishment be brought.

 

 

247: Ruler to Punish Those Who Deviate From Their Professed Faiths

 

Who, by their professed faiths, do not abide,

Beside the judgment they receive in the life beyond,

In terms of Agamic law by Siva revealed,

Punished they shall be on earth by the just ruler of the land.