Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 55 : The Right Sceptre
 

Introductory Note

F. W. Ellis translates the title as: ‘The Uprightness of Sceptre’. Comparable parts in Manu Smriti are vii. 102-103.

This chapter on justice, or king acting in judicial role, is a very important. In the theory of modern democracy there are three relatively independent branches – the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary - each working as a check on other two. In the days of kings – monarchy - all three functions were vested in the king. In this chapter the king is advised to follow the rule of law in his role as a judicature.

I feel that faulty administration of justice by kings has been one of weak areas in Indian civilization. The efficient system of administering justice created by the British colonizers in India was a quantum leap over whatever the Indian sub-continent had earlier to them. The system created by them continues to successfully work at least in Indian democracy even today. Of course cracks are showing and there are serious problems. Hopefully we will be able to prevent further deterioration if not improve.

Translation(s)

Show favor to no one. With heart that loves justice, search out, consult, then act. This is the rule that right approves.

“Carefully consider the facts, without yielding to feelings of compassion, acting with integrity towards all, and deciding according to law: so to act is to administer justice.”
– rendering by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

"I were content to hear matters argued and debated pro and contra as all princes must that will understand what is right, yet I look ever as it were upon a plain tablet wherein is written neither partility or prejudice." (Golden Speech, 1601)
- Elizabeth I, Queen of England & Ireland, also known as Good Queen Bess, presided over growing empire (1533-1603)

Translation(s)

All earth looks up to heaven when raindrops fall. Similarly all subjects look to the king that rules all.

Explanation

Whenever rain falls people look up at the sky. Similarly, the subjects think about the king whenever a right or wrong happens.

"We princes are set as it were upon stages in the sight and view of the world."
- Elizabeth I, Queen of England & Ireland, also known as Good Queen Bess, presided over growing empire (1533-1603)

Translation(s)

Learning and virtue of the sages springs from all controlling sceptre of the king.

“The scepter of the king (i.e. the administration of justice) was the cause of the practice of virtue, and of the observance of the law of the sacred teachers.”
- rendering by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

If the kings rules rightly then there is prosperity and thereby the sages are able to pursue learning and virtue.

Translation(s)

When heart of the lord who rules over mighty land embraces all subjects, the world stands embracing his feet.

“The whole world embraceth the feet of the monarch of extended dominion, who, in administering justice (literally in directing his scepter) embraceth all his subjects.”
- rendering by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

A king should have concern for all subjects under him, not of a section of subjects alone. Then subjects will have in their heart true respect for him.

This is an important statement because the Hindu society in the poet’s days was highly divided by caste, and most probably by religion also.

Situation today is also similar. The framers of ‘The Constitution of India’ which was adopted on 26th Jan 1956 found it necessary to mention this as a Fundamental Right of every citizen of India:

“14. Equality before law.—The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.

15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.—(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.

(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to—

(a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or
(b) the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.

(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children.

(4) Nothing in this article or in clause (2) of article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.”

- The Constitution of India

Translation(s)

Where king wields sceptre having regard for righteous laws, there fall showers and there rich abundance crowns the fields.

“In the country of which the sovereign duly administereth justice (literally directeth his sceptre to the right place), both the rain falleth in its season, and the harvest is abundant.”
-rendering by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

Poet says that rain falls and abundance in fields exists in the land where the king binds himself to righteous laws. Certainly good rule increases prosperity of a kingdom.

"I have ever used to set the last Judgement Day before mine eyes, and so to rule as I shall be judged to answer before a higher judge." (Golden Speech, 1601)
- Elizabeth I, Queen of England & Ireland, also known as Good Queen Bess, presided over growing empire (1533-1603)

Translation(s)

It is not the lance that gives victory to kings. It is scepter swayed by equity.

“It is not the lance which giveth victory to a king, but his sceptre (the symbol of justice) if it never deviate from right.”
- rendering by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

This expresses the moral principle that the ruling by equity gives true victory to the kings. Is it correct to relate this couplet with the concept of the ‘Rule of Law’?

Translation(s)

The king protects all of the whole realm of earth. And justice guards the king who respects rights (of his subjects).

“A king defendeth the whole world; and justice (if strictly administered), defendeth the king.”
- rendering by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

If the king is just then there is lesser chance of revolts and revenge against him. So justice is said to guard him.

Translation(s)

The king who is hard to access, is not searching out, and rules with partial hand; shall sink and perish from the land.

Explanation

‘Not searching out’ refers to searching out the truth mentioned in Verse 541 above.

Translation(s)

Guarding abroad and meting out punishment at home (in kingdom) is the work assigned to kings. It brings no just reproach.

Explanation

Doing these duties involves harshness towards people but the king must perform these all the same. He need not be soft about these.

"Those who touch the sceptres of princes deserve no pity."
- Elizabeth I, Queen of England & Ireland, also known as Good Queen Bess, presided over growing empire (1533-1603)

Translation(s)

To restrain the cruel by punishment of death is like the farmer who frees the tender grain from weeds.

“The act of the king in punishing those guilty of murder resembleth the weeding of green corn.”
- rendering by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

Thiru-valluvar approved of capital punishment. This is one more indication that he was not a “feely touchy” philosopher who recommended non-killing or vegetarianism.

Compare with Manu vii. 10.

The basic premise is that well administered policing and judicial functions are fundamental requirement for king’s survival.

“I will make you shorter by the head.”
- Elizabeth I, Queen of England & Ireland, also known as Good Queen Bess, presided over growing empire (1533-1603)

“God forgive you, but I never can.”
- Elizabeth I, Queen of England & Ireland, also known as Good Queen Bess, presided over growing empire (1533-1603)

Looking Up from Base of the Statue
Note folds & falls of "Lungi" He Wears, Carved in Stone - Closeup,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari,India
Credit: Thangalvk, Flickr

References