Weaver’s Wisdom

Not Offending the Great

KURAL 891

Of all the ways to protect oneself, the foremost is this: do not belittle the prowess of powerful men.§

KURAL 892

Disrespectful conduct toward great men will bring, through those great men, unremitting miseries.§

KURAL 893

If you desire destruction, simply ignore the rules and provoke those who, if they desire, can destroy you.§

KURAL 894

For the powerless to wreak harm upon the powerful is to summon Death with a gesturing hand. §

KURAL 895

Once he incurs a fierce king’s withering wrath, one is doomed, wherever he wanders, whatever he does.§

KURAL 896

Though burned by a blazing fire, one may still survive; but there is no survival for those who offend great men.§

KURAL 897

What is the use of a man’s varied life and splendid wealth if he reaps the wrath of great and righteous men?§

KURAL 898

If men of mountainous stature are meagerly esteemed, others who seemed as enduring as earth will die, as will their kin.§

KURAL 899

The most kingly king will tumble from his throne and die, should he unleash a towering sage’s bridled temper.§

KURAL 900

Though he commands unrivaled powers of protection, a king cannot survive the wrath of powerful ascetics. §