# LVII: Abstaining from Deeds That Cause Trepidation explained — The Kural

> Chapter companion for The Kural by Thiruvalluvar.

## What happens

This chapter advises the prince to avoid excessive punishment, harsh words, and tyranny, warning that such deeds lead to loss of power, friends, and life. It emphasizes measured justice, accessibility, counsel, and timely defense.

## Themes in this chapter

### Statecraft and Governance

The chapter focuses on the prince's duties, including just punishment, accessibility, and seeking counsel.

### Social Harmony and Ethics

Warns against tyranny and harshness to maintain social order and the prince's prosperity.

## Character check-ins

### Thiruvalluvar

Author of the Kural, providing counsel on princely conduct.

### the Kural

The text itself, containing the verses on abstaining from deeds that cause trepidation.

## Key lines

> The prince shall measure the guilt of the offender and punish him so that he offend not again: but the punishment shall not be excessive.

A ruler should assess the crime and impose a penalty sufficient to deter repetition, but not overly severe.

_Emphasizes proportionality in justice._

> Behold the prince who ruleth with a rod of iron and causeth anguish unto his people: he shall stand without a friend and perish forthwith.

A ruler who governs harshly and causes suffering will lose allies and quickly fall.

_Warns against tyranny leading to isolation and downfall._

> Words that are harsh and punishments that are excessive are the files that file away the iron of power.

Harsh speech and excessive punishment gradually erode a ruler's authority.

_Metaphor comparing such actions to tools that wear down power._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters/lvii-abstaining-from-deeds-that-cause-trepidation
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters