KuralA celebrated work by the greatest poet of classical Tamil literature Tiruvalluvar probably lived and wrote between the second century BC and the eighth century AD though his dates have not been conclusively established. The work by which he is known, the Kural, comprises 1,330 couplets and is divided into three sections—Virtue, Wealth and Love—and is based on the first three of the four supreme aims prescribed by Hindu tradition: dharma (virtue), artha (wealth), kama (love) and moksha (salvation). Taken together, the three books of the Kural inform, criticize and teach the reader, in brilliantly styled and pithy verse, about life, love and the ways of the world. Translated and edited with an introduction by P.S. Sundaram |
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Common terms and phrases
another’s wife army Arthasastra ascetic avoid bear better birth bracelets Brahmin chapter clasp cling comes commentary couplet coyness death deeds delight Dharmasastra distress earth embrace envious envoy Envy evil eyes False Friends fame fate faults fear feet five senses foe's foes folly fool fortress friends friendship gain give guard heart heaven heroic couplet honour hurt Jainism jewel Kamasutra killing king king’s Kural lack learning live look lose love’s lover madal Madras Mahabharata Mahavira man’s Manusamhita mean mind minister moksha never nicety one’s pallor penance poetry poverty praise pure rain Rajaji renunciation rich Right conduct ruin Sanskrit scholar seek shame shoulders slander slipping clothes Sloth smile sorrow stanzas sulk sweet words Tamil Tamil Language things thought Tirukkural TIRUVALLUVAR translation Truthfulness University of Madras Vaishnavite Valluvar verse virtue virtuous wealth well-born wisdom wise woman wrath yearning