Wealth

Poem : 551

Than one who plies the murderer's trade, more cruel is the king
Who all injustice works, his subjects harassing.

Explanation :
The king who gives himself up to oppression and acts unjustly (towards his subjects) is more cruel than the man who leads the life of a murderer.

Poem : 552

As 'Give' the robber cries with lance uplift,
So kings with sceptred hand implore a gift.

Explanation :
The request (for money) of him who holds the sceptre is like the word of a highway robber who stands with a weapon in hand and says "give up your wealth".

Poem : 553

Who makes no daily search for wrongs, nor justly rules, that king
Doth day by day his realm to ruin bring.

Explanation :
The country of the king who does not daily examine into the wrongs done and distribute justice, will daily fall to ruin.

Poem : 554

Whose rod from right deflects, who counsel doth refuse,
At once his wealth and people utterly shall lose.

Explanation :
The king, who, without reflecting (on its evil consequences), perverts justice, will lose at once both his wealth and his subjects.

Poem : 555

His people's tears of sorrow past endurance, are not they
Sharp instruments to wear the monarch's wealth away?

Explanation :
Will not the tears, shed by a people who cannot endure the oppression which they suffer (from their king), become a saw to waste away his wealth ?

Poem : 556

To rulers' rule stability is sceptre right;
When this is not, quenched is the rulers' light.

Explanation :
Righteous government gives permanence to (the fame of) kings; without that their fame will have no endurance.

Poem : 557

As lack of rain to thirsty lands beneath,
Is lack of grace in kings to all that breathe.

Explanation :
As is the world without rain, so live a people whose king is without kindness.

Poem : 558

To poverty it adds a sharper sting,
To live beneath the sway of unjust king.

Explanation :
Property gives more sorrow than poverty, to those who live under the sceptre of a king without justice.

Poem : 559

Where king from right deflecting, makes unrighteous gain,
The seasons change, the clouds pour down no rain.

Explanation :
If the king acts contrary to justice, rain will become unseasonable, and the heavens will withhold their showers.

Poem : 560

Where guardian guardeth not, udder of kine grows dry,
And Brahmans' sacred lore will all forgotten lie.

Explanation :
If the guardian (of the country) neglects to guard it, the produce of the cows will fail, and the men of six duties viz., the Brahmins will forget the vedas.