தனக்குச் சொல்லப்பட்ட அறத்திலிருந்து விலகாமல், அறமற்ற கொடுமைகள் தன் நாட்டில் நடைபெறாமல் விலக்கி, வீரத்தில் தவறாமல் நின்று மானத்தைப் பெரிதாக மதிப்பதே அரசு.

அறநெறி தவறாமலும், குற்றமேதும் இழைக்காமலும், வீரத்துடனும், மானத்துடனும் ஆட்சி நடத்துபவர்களே சிறந்தவர்களாவார்கள்

ஆட்சி முறைக்கு உரிய அறத்தில் தவறாமல் அறமல்லாதவற்றை நீக்கி வீரத்தில் குறைபடாத மானத்தை உடையவனே சிறந்த அரசன் ஆவான்.

He is a king who, with manly modesty, swerves not from virtue, and refrains from vice

This Thiru Kural verse 384 essentially describes the characteristics of an ideal king or ruler. According to the verse, a true king is one who adheres steadfastly to virtue and refrains from indulging in any form of vice. He maintains his integrity and upholds his dignity, never straying from the path of righteousness. The verse emphasizes the importance of modesty and valor in a ruler. He should be strong and courageous, but at the same time, he should also be modest and humble. He should not let power corrupt him or lead him into wrongdoing. Furthermore, the verse also suggests that a worthy ruler is one who not only refrains from vice himself but also strives to eradicate it from his kingdom. He should have zero tolerance for any form of immorality or injustice within his reign. Overall, the verse extols the virtue of moral governance and underscores the need for rulers to be paragons of virtue and justice. It serves as a timeless guideline for leadership, advocating for rulers who are strong yet humble, firm yet fair, and above all, committed to upholding virtue and justice.