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The Thiruk-Kural Highlights the Role of the Ambassador As the King's Messenger-Spy: Canto 69
The Thiruk-Kural Highlights the Role of the Ambassador As the King's Messenger-Spy: Canto 69
The THIRUK-KURAL highlights the role of the AMBASSADOR* as the King's Messenger-SPY: THUUTHU, Canto 69
[*THUUTHU in Tamil translates as ENVOY and principally connotes variously as: "messenger", "message", "ambassador", "embassy" and "SPY" (little wonder, today, we find parallels in the action taken by President OBAMA to expel 70 Russian diplomats back to Moscow). In any case, these office-holders in the royal courts of ancient Tamil kingdoms were, according to Thiru-Valluvar, to be selected from the highest class of individuals in the realm - judging by the distiques in CANTO 69. These representatives had to be of the noblest stock, highly educated, of presentable bearing, courteous, totally loyal to the sovereign, gifted in the art of expressing themselves in foreign courts, never given to wrathfu speech, learned and cultured. In other words, these individuals were compelled to make their Lords, the Kings, look like paragons in the eyes of the world since they represented the royal person by divine riight.]T. Wignesan
K684: arivuuru* aaraaintha kalviyim moontrum
cherivudaiyaan chelka vinaikku
*"uru" = form; "uruvu" = form, shape, beauty, mien; "cheri" = be close, near; "cherivu" = modest, nearness, reserve]
Sense, goodly grace, and knowledge exquisite,
Who hath these three for envoy's task is fit. (Transl. G.U. Pope)
He may go on a mission (to foreign rulers) who has combined in him all these three, viz., (natural) sense, an attractive bearing and well-tried learning. (Transl. Drew & Lazarus)
Learning, refinement, a disposition for deep reflection - these three acquisitions equip the man of reserve for mission in other lands. (Transl. T. Wignesan)
K688: thuuymai* thunaimai thunivudaimai immoontran
vaaymai* valiyuraippaan panpu*
[* "thuuymai" = purity; "vaaymai" = truth; "panpu" = good quality, excellence, courtesy]
Integrity, resources, soul determined, truthfulness.
Who rightly speaks his message must these marks possess. (Transl. G.U. Pope)
The qualification of him who faithfully delivers his (sovereign's) message are purity, the support (of foreign ministers), and boldness, with truthfulness in addition to the (aforesaid) three. (Transl. Drew & Lazarus)
Integrity, reliability (even with foreign assistance), fearlessness - these three qualities, together with honesty, make up the personality of the ambassador. (Transl. T. Wignesan)
© T. Wignesan - Paris, 2017
Copyright © T Wignesan | Year Posted 2017
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