Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 53 : Cherishing one's Kindred
 

Introductory Note

Kindred mean our relatives – i.e. those related by blood. In extended it can include those related thru marriage and the clan.

Rev. G. U. Pope says that this chapter refers to the kingly “circle,” which includes ring of courtiers, intimate friends, unofficial society of the palace. The last one included the royal family, often large. He adds: “In Indian history the king’s foes have been often of his own household.”

Translation(s)

Only kinsmen know the kindly grace to still show the old kindliness when wealth has fled.

 

Translation(s)

The gift of kin’s unfailing love bestows much gain of good, like flower that blows without fading, the gift

 

Translation(s)

One who does not mingle with kinsmen gathered around, his joy of life, is like a lake where streams pour in but has no encircling bound.

Explanation

A lake without any encircling bound – a mountain or bund – will not be able to gather & retain the water flowing in. Similarly the man who does not mingle with relatives will not be able to gather & retain joy and happiness.

Translation(s)

The (real) profit gained by increased wealth (lies) in living encompassed around by relatives in peace.

Explanation

The gaiety and joy in Indian marriages and festivals is an example of this.

Translation(s)

He who knows the use of pleasant words and can give liberal gifts, connections heap on him and surrounding him shall live.

 

Translation(s)

None gains a larger following through this wide world than the one who bestows gifts and restrains wrath.

 

Translation(s)

The crows do not conceal (but) call their friends to come and then eat. Such worthy ones will meet increase of good.

Explanation

Thousands of years back also, in the days of the poet; the population of crows was larger than other birds! Thiru-valluvar attributes this to the sharing nature of the crow and says that humans should emulate it.

Even today, the crows must be having one of the highest populations amongst birds.

Translation(s)

Where the king regards each according to his degree, not all alike; underneath such discerning rule many dwell happily.

Explanation

Poet tells us that the discerning king must differentiate between people according to each person’s degree (=ability).

This is similar to the concept of ‘Variable Pay’, ‘Performance Linked Rewards’, and ‘Pay for Performance’ in modern management theory.

The principle of differentiation was practiced, preached and popularized by Jack Welch, the erstwhile CEO of General Electric, as one amongst his four fundamental principles:

“If there is one of my values that really pushes buttons, it is differentiation. … Obviously, I am a huge fan of differentiation. I have seen it transform companies from mediocre to outstanding, and it is as morally sound as a management system can be. It works.” – Jack Welch, in Winning, Harper Collins Publishers, 2005, p 37,

Jack Welch’s practice is on extreme end of the concept of variable pay. He recommends high rewards for ‘Top 20%’ good but graded rewards for ‘Middle 70%’. However, for the ‘Bottom 10%’ he not only recommends zero variable pay but strongly advocates separating them from the organization. I wonder whether Thiru-valluvar would agree to this extreme.


Does Thiru-valluvar say to differentiate amongst relatives only? Or not to blindly rewards relatives as compared to non-relatives? Am I reading too much in this verse by generalizing it out of context?

Translation(s)

Those who were once his own but had forsaken, will come around when the cause of disagreement is no more.

Explanation

This chapter is about relatives so the principle applies to them. Connect this with the next couplet.

Translation(s)

Those who went away without any cause then ask leave to return for any cause, the king should sift their motives well, consider and then receive.

Explanation

When a relative went away without any cause – in the absence of any disagreement – and he seeks to come back citing a reason, the king should be allow him only after careful consideration.

The Left Foot - Closeup,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari,India
Credit: Ajai.menon, Flickr

References