தீய செயல்களால் பொருளைத் திரட்டி, அதைக் காப்பது, சுடாத பச்சைமண் பானையில் நீரை ஊற்றி அதைச் சேமிப்பது போலாம்.

தவறான வழிகளில் பொருளைச் சேர்த்து அதைக் காப்பாற்ற நினைப்பது, பச்சை மண்ணால் செய்யப்பட்ட பாத்திரத்தில் நீரை ஊற்றி, அதைப் பாதுகாக்க நினைப்பதைப் போன்றதுதான்

வஞ்சனையான வழியால் பொருளைச்சேர்த்துக் காப்பாற்றுதல், பச்சை மண்கலத்தில் நீரை விட்டு அதைக் காப்பாற்றி வைத்தாற் போன்றது.

(For a minister) to protect (his king) with wealth obtained by foul means is like preserving a vessel of wet clay by filling it with water

This Kural is about the ethical responsibilities of a minister in governing a kingdom. The verse metaphorically illustrates the consequences of protecting a ruler using wealth obtained through unethical means. The analogy that Thiruvalluvar uses here is of a vessel made of wet clay. Just as filling such a vessel with water will lead to its disintegration rather than its preservation, similarly, a kingdom sustained by ill-gotten wealth will eventually break down rather than thrive. In essence, Thiruvalluvar advises ministers to avoid unethical means of acquiring wealth for the kingdom's protection. This advice is not just applicable to ministers but to all individuals in positions of power. The verse emphasizes the importance of integrity and ethical conduct in governance, suggesting that ill-gotten gains can never lead to long-term stability or prosperity. Thiruvalluvar's wisdom in this verse is timeless, reminding us that short-term gains obtained through foul means can lead to long-term destruction. This can be applied to modern contexts as well, where leaders and people in authority must uphold ethical standards and avoid corruption. The verse underlines the importance of transparency, honesty, and fair play in leadership roles, whether in governance, business, or any other field.