Justice As Shown in

Tamil
Literature
P.SENTHIL KUMARAN
RESEARCH SCHOLAR
SCHOOL OF TAMIL
PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY
PONDICHERRY-14
senthill732@yahoo.com

Introduction
Tamil Language is one of the classical and
oldest languages in the world. The literature
in Tamil has the tradition of more than 3000
years
There are lots of ethical principles like love
everyone, justice, doing no harm, protect the
animals etc., that are discussed in Tamil
Literature.
This article tries to point out how the ethical
principle Justice has been upheld in some
of the dynasty referred in Tamil Literature.

Justice Definition

Justice can be defined from the

sources of Tamil Literature as
One should try to uphold the
principles of justice in any
circumstances, and ready to
sacrifice oneself to protect the
codes of justice at any cost.

Cheras Dynasty
A Chera king called Maantharan Cheral
Irumporai had rolled over by the codes of
justice.The people in his country had lived
with joy and safe, because of the kings just
rule and military power. This can be referred
in Puranaanooru,
Ambu thunju kadiyaranaal
Aran thunju chengkolaiyae

Chola Dynasty
One day Chibi, a chola king had sat in the garden of
his palace. Suddenly a dove had fallen down on his
thighs with wounds. He gave the dove to the servants
and ordered them to give treatment to the dove.
After some minutes a hunter came into the garden
and he searched the dove, which has wounded by
him. He came to know the king has kept that dove.
He came in front of the king and asked him to give
the dove. But king Chibi did not want to give the
dove. The hunter told that the meat of the dove was
the only source of food for that day.

 King Chibi decided to save the dove

and to change the hunting mentality of
the hunter. So, he cut his own flesh
equal to the weight of the dove and
gave it to the hunter.
The hunter saw all these things and felt
ashamed. Then he regretted himself
for his violent actions. This can be
referred in Cillappathikaram as,
Ellaru cirappin imaiyavar viyappa
Pulluru punkan theerthon (51-52)

The above-mentioned incident also can be

referred in the following literary works,
Puranaanooru (37,39,43,46)
Kural (72, Parimaelalagar commentary)
Kambaramayanam (65:7 & 7:355)
Kalingathupparani (93)
Rajaraja Cholan Ulaa (5-6)
Kulothunga Cholan Ulaa (17)
Vikirama Cholan Ulaa (10-11)

 A young Chola Prince son of king Manuneethi

Cholan went around the city by a chariot. The
people of the city gave him a warm welcome by
beating drums and pipes.
A calf threatened by hearing this huge sound,
jumped and ran here and there. Finally it had fallen
down under the wheel of the Princes chariot. The
wheel had crushed the calf.
King Manuneethi Cholan came to know, that the
carelessness of his son has caused the death of
the calf. So, he wanted to punish his son for the
convict of the calfs murder.
He killed his son by the same manner how the calf
was
killed.
This
can
be
referred
in
Cillappathikaram as,
Aavin kadaimani uhuneer nenjusudath thaan than
Arumperar puthalvanai aaliyin madithon (20:54-55)

 The above-mentioned incident also can

be referred in following literary works,
Manimegalai (3:22)
Kural (547, Parimaelalagar commentary)
Palamoli (3)
Rajaraja Cholan Ulaa (3)
Kulothunga Cholan Ulaa (2)
Vikirama Cholan Ulaa (3-4)

Pandiyas Dynasty
Pandiyan Neduncheliyan, one of the
Pandiyas emperors, has wrongly punished
(killed) a man namely Kovalan for the theft of
Queens anklet.
After the death of Kovalan, his wife Kannagi
came to the court of the king. She argued her
husband tried to sell her anklet only and not
the Queens one.
The king compared the anklet of Kannagi and
the anklet, which was taken from Kovalan. He
felt that the two anklets are of the same pair.

He thought that, he had wrongly punished

the victim Kovalan.As soon as King
Pandiyan Neduncheliyan felt his wrong
judgment, he suddenly fell down from the
kings throne and died.
This can be referred in Cillappathikaram
as,
Poncey kollan than corkaetta
Yano arasan yanae kalvan
Manpathai kakkum thenpulan kaaval
Enmuthal pilaithathu kedugaven aayul
(74-77)

 Whenever the warriors go for war, they made an

announcement to the people before the
commencement of the war.
The announcement reads like this, Cows, priests,
animals, couples who have no child, ladies,
patients, and aged peoples are asked to go the
safe places, because the war will be commencing
on such and such day.
This can be referred in Puranaanooru,
Aavum aaniyar parppana maakkalum
Pendirum piniyudai yeerum paeni
Thenpulan vaalnark karunkadan irukkum
Ponpor puthalvarp peraatheerum
Yemmambu kadividuthum nummaran cerminena
(9)

Conclusion
The following points can be derived
from this article,
Justice is common to all living beings.
One should uphold the principles of
Justice in any circumstances.
Each and every person should be given
equal and fair chances to prove him or
herself.

 We try to highlight the ethical principle

justice from the background of Tamil
literature and Tamil culture that will
help the students of Tamilnadu to
develop their own Codes of Justice
on the basis of their culture and
tradition and others to take the best
from it.

THANK YOU