நீதி தேடி வருவார்க்கு எளிய காட்சியாளனாய், நீதி தேடுவார் சொல்வதைப் பலவகை நூலாரோடும், ஆராய்ந்து நீதி வழங்காத ஆட்சியாளன். பாவமும் பலியும் எய்தித் தானே அழிவான்.

ஆடம்பரமாகவும், ஆராய்ந்து நீதி வழங்காமலும் நடைபெறுகிற அரசு தாழ்ந்த நிலையடைந்து தானாகவே கெட்டொழிந்து விடும்

எளிய செவ்வி உடையவனாய் ஆராய்ந்து நீதி முறை செய்யாத அரசன், தாழ்ந்த நிலையில் நின்று (பகைவரில்லாமலும் ) தானே கெடுவான்.

The king who gives not facile audience (to those who approach him), and who does not examine and pass judgment (on their complaints), will perish in disgrace

Kural 548 emphasizes the importance of accessibility and justice in effective governance. It warns that a ruler who does not provide easy access to his subjects, and does not listen, analyze, and pass fair judgments on their grievances, is bound to decline and perish in disgrace. This verse highlights two critical responsibilities of a ruler. First, it stresses the need for the ruler to be approachable, signifying the importance of communication between the ruler and the ruled. It discourages the practice of maintaining a distance and suggests that a ruler should be open to hear the concerns of his subjects. Second, it emphasizes the importance of justice. The ruler has a duty to impartially evaluate the issues brought before him and dispense justice accordingly. Neglecting this duty can lead to discontent and unrest among the subjects, thereby leading to the downfall of the ruler. In essence, this verse suggests that good governance is not just about ruling, but also about serving the people by being accessible and delivering justice. Failure to do so can result in the ruler's own collapse and loss of dignity.