Verses of Vemana – 65
cherukulona baini cheddagunambunna
tipiveyakunna dinaga bosaga
dantipurapu druhi yatadetlundura
viswadhabhirama vinura vema
Commentary: Vemana presents in this verse a bane as hazardous to the nation as is cancer to the body: treason. He says that the traitor in one’s kingdom, on discovery, should immediately be removed, just as the outer bark of the sugarcane is to be peeled to eat it. Else, the consequences will be grave.
What is true of a nation is true of an organization. It ‘can survive its fools, but it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy outside is less formidable, for he is known and carries out his plans openly. But the traitor in an organization moves freely and works secretly to undermine its pillars. He infects the administration so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague[1].’
[1] Paraphrase of Marcus Tullius Cicero words on treason.
