A Country By St. Thiruvalluvar Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

731. Profuse Cultivators, Paragons of Virtue and the Tycoons
make a country together.
732. Ample assets and disasters rare in a land lure all
and lavish growth makes it great.
733. A good country bears the taxing tax due to neighbours
and also fills the coffers of her King.
734. A great country keeps fierce famine, plaguing epidemics
and ravaging foes at bay.
735. A good country is free from factions diverse and deadly foes
and the lurking Chiefs who wreak havoc on the King.
736. It is the land of lands which knows no danger and remains
undwarfed even if ravaged by the foes.
737. Both rains and springs, luxuriant hills and the rills thence
and the impregnable fort are the parts of the land.
738. Free from ills, wealth, bumper crop, joy and defense
are the five jewels of a land.
739. To get things in a fertile land, you don’t fret,
but a land of no worth spares not if you don’t sweat.
740. A land may have all the blessed gifts and yet be no use
if it isn’t in harmony with the King.