ON LUST AND WINE AND GAMBLING

PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL

(Rochouse) EDITION

The 21ru-k-Kural of Tiru Valluvar is one of the oldest of extant Tamil books. it is generally accepted an belonging toa period anterior to the second century A. D. Some scholars place it in the first century B.C.   It is claimed by many that Tiru-Valluvar was a Jain. I do not accept this thegry. Tiru-Valluvar was one of those raye and great men whose catholic spirit rose above all denominations and whose vision was not clouded by dogma or prejudice of any kind. His teachings elude classification on any denominational basis.

Tiru-Valluvar's approach to moral doctrine is marked by a very thorough knowleJgc of human psychology and a desire to help impeifect men with practical hints in the struggle against evil. Throughout we can see how the poet brings everything down to the level of practicality without losing hold of the ideal.

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