Thirukkural · Verse 736

Thirukkural 736

by Thiruvalluvar

கேடறியாக் கெட்ட இடத்தும் வளங்குன்றா நாடென்ப நாட்டின் தலை.

Kēṭ aṟiyā-k keṭṭa iṭattum vaḷam kunṟā Nāṭ-en-p nāṭṭin talai.

A ruler who does not know destruction, even in a land of ruin, is himself the nation's head. / The integrity of a leader matters more than the fortune of the realm.