Hindu Books > Books By Rajaji > Kural - The Great Book Of Tiru-Valluvar

Kulapati's Preface It is our intension to publish the books we select , not only in English, but also in the following Indian languages: Hindi, Bengal, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu etc., [ More... ] Author Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly known as 'Rajaji" or "C.R" was a great patriot, astute politician, incisive thinker, and one of the greatest of Indians. [ More... ] Foreword Tirukkural is a poetic composition of great antiquity in the Tamil literature, many great minds have shed their powerful, radian light on this gem and justly famous classic of Tamil literature. [ More... ] Preface To The Original (Rochouse) Edition Tiru - Valluvar's approach to moral doctrine is marked by a very through knowledge of human psychology and a desire to help imperfect men with practical hints in the struggle against evil. [ More... ] Preface To Revised Edition Of Kural This is a thoroughly revised fourth edition of my book of selections from Tiru-Valluvar's great book. [ More... ] Dharma There is no greater wealth one can acquire than Dharma and no misfortune greater than the forgetting of it. [ More... ] The Good House Holder The householder so - called helps the other orders in the proper fulfilment of their duties. [ More... ] The Life - Partner She is a true life companion who proves equal to the tasks of a householder's life, adjusting herself to the bread winner's resources. [ More... ] Children Of all things that one may be blessed with , we can think of nothing equal to the house of having begot children who have grown up to true enlightenment: [ More... ] A Loving Disposition Those who have not a loving disposition, belong wholly to themselves. [ More... ] An Open House The only justification for a man to remain in family life and for acquiring and keeping property is that he may command the means by which help may be given to those who seek help. [ More... ] The Soft Word The speech of enlightened men consists of truth soaked in affection: [ More... ] Gratitude The good deed that is done not in return, but in the first instance, is more precious than anything in this world or beyond. [ More... ] Rectitude The acquisition of a man of rectitude go down to his children without diminution and will protect them against adversity: [ More... ] Self - Control Self - Control is as necessary a virtue for the house holder as for the recluse. [ More... ] The Regulated life Discipline of life is more precious than life itself, for it is out of that discipline that life derives value. [ More... ] Unlawful Love It is stupidity to entertain amorous thoughts about one who belongs to another. [ More... ] Forbearance Does not the earth support the man that is engaged in digging it ? [ More... ] Do Not Envy There is no greater wealth than the possession of a mind that is free from envy: .... [ More... ] Do Not Covet Azhukkaru is envy, an inability to feel happy at the sight of another's well-being. [ More... ] Speak Not ill Of Others you may sometimes speak the harshest things to a man's face. [ More... ] Avoid Worthless Talk He who indulges in purposeless talk causing disgust to his company earns universal contempt. [ More... ] Conscience The title of the chapter giving this and following couplets, is trepidation at the though of wrong-doing. [ More... ] Social Cooperation What good did the creatures of the earth do to the clouds that pour the rain ? [ More... ] Helping The Poor That alone is a gift which is given to the needy. Gifts to others are in the nature of business transactions where in what is given is expected to be duty returned. [ More... ] Public Esteem Poverty is wealth if it is brought about for causes that raise a man in the esteem of the world. [ More... ] Compassion Diverse are the teaching of the religions of the world, but in all will be found that compassion is that which gives men spiritual deliverance. [ More... ] Eat No Meat How can a man adopt the way of compassion, goring on the flesh of other beings in order to fatten his own flesh ? [ More... ] Penance When Kural was written the monastic life was common in South India. Tiru - Valluvar does not oppose it. [ More... ] Impure Life If one has falsehood in his heart and secretly breaks the law of celibacy the five elements that watch from inside his body laugh at the futile fraud. [ More... ] Truthfulness Truthfulness is attained if one's speech is such that it harms no being in the world. [ More... ] Against Anger He truly is anger less who does not give vent to anger when the wrong doer is under his power. [ More... ] Do Not Cause Harm The best punishment for those who do evil to you, is to shame them by returning good for evil. [ More... ] The Fleeting World Like the crowd that gather to Seeta play comes dazzling wealth. [ More... ] Renunciation As one by one you detach yourself from the things of the world you are saved from pain in respect of it. [ More... ] True Knowledge Those who have learnt to perceive the Real will surely take the path leading to deliverance from rebirth. [ More... ] Renouncing Of Desire The desirelessness recommended in Indian philosophy does not appeal to the modern mind which depends upon hope and faith in human heart. [ More... ] The Law Of Karma The doctrine of Karma as enunciated in Hindu Shastras is accepted in toto and without any modification in the Kural. [ More... ] Vigilance The neglectfulness that is apt to arise out of the intoxication of achievement is more harmful than even inordinate anger. [ More... ] Industriousness Family virtues (i.e. inherited qualities) naturally persist, but are apt to disappear unless kept up by unflagging industry.... [ More... ] The Strenuous Life Let not the magnitude of any task unman you. Strenuous effort ever brings victory. [ More... ] Fortitude One's spirit should not be broken down by misfortune, adversity or defeat. [ More... ] On Learning The first thing laid down in Kural dealing with learning is the duty of relating one's conduct to one's knowledge. [ More... ] On Being Unlettered The Tamil classics lay very great emphasis on education. [ More... ] Knowledge Through Listening Knowledge acquired or confirmed by listening to the teachings and expeditions of learned men was a major division of learning in our ancient system. [ More... ] On Friendship The Friendship of men of character is like the young moon which grows as the days pass. [ More... ] Folly The biggest folly among follies is to cherish a desire for a prohibited object. [ More... ] Guard Against Deceivers Protection against the heat of the sun is good. So also is water good. [ More... ] A Warning The Wife is generally treated with great consideration in Kural. [ More... ] On Lust And Wine And Gambling Thirty Kural couplets are devoted to warning men against lust, wine and gambling. [ More... ] On The Art Of Healing Make a careful diagnosis, discover the true cause of the disease, think out the proper remedy, and apply it effectively. [ More... ] Self Respect When you have wealth, cultivate humility; when your means are straitened, then it is that you should hold your head high. [ More... ] Glory Glory consists in wealth of spirit. To decide to live though devoid of it is inglorious. [ More... ] Looking After The Tribe The Tamil classics lay great stress on the duty of conserving the affection of relatives and dependents. [ More... ] Niggardliness When wealth is neither enjoyed by oneself nor given to deserving persons, the possessor becomes a disease to society. [ More... ] Repugnance To Evil The quick and instinctive shrinking from wrong and improper actions is one of the essential elements of good character. [ More... ] Unscrupulous Men Strange indeed is the complete physical resemblance of the unscrupulous to the human species. [ More... ] On Agriculture Many other industries may be taken up, but ultimately the world depends on agriculture. [ More... ] On Poverty Poverty is vividly described in this verse. [ More... ] Labour If the world were so ordered that one of it inhabitants must live in dependence and on the mercy of others. [ More... ] The Prosperous State A Prince will be a lion among princes whose State has an adequate army. [ More... ] Action In every action there are the three elements of loss, acquisition a nd value. [ More... ] Judging The Time Is there anything impossible if the right means are adopted and the right hour is chosen ? [ More... ] Tactics Till you find the place suitable for surrounding the opposing force, do not begin your attack. [ More... ] Choosing The Executive Before entrusting a man with power, test his loyalty by putting him through trials in respect of his attachment to life, religion, wealth and pleasure. [ More... ] Good Ministers The king's ministers are his eyes. So he should choose them with circumspection. [ More... ] Good Birth To be born in a good family is useful qualification. [ More... ] Nobility As non-killing is the most important element in the ascetic's duties, abstention is also. [ More... ] Just Rule All dharma and all the codes of teacher are ultimately dependent on the king's good government. [ More... ] Oppression And Misrule The oppressive king who misgoverns is a worse sinner than the murderer. [ More... ] Penalties The principles of punishment are tersely put in the following verses. [ More... ] The Good Minister A Minister should be resolute in action, have the welfare of the people at heart. [ More... ] Resoluteness 'Okkam' is the quality of mind which shows itself eagerness for action without weakening or wavering. [ More... ] On Spies The departments of spies was in the old day considered one of the most important branches of the public service. [ More... ] The Art Of Persuasion Tiru-Valluvar lays down that power of expression is an essential qualification for a successful councilor. [ More... ] Assembly Work The minister had to deal not only with the king but with a council that sat to deliberate on affairs. [ More... ] The Moral Law Kural insists on the moral law being followed in acts of State. [ More... ] The Dangers Of The Palace These are precepts for those whose work keeps them near kings, telling them how to escape the dangers of courts. [ More... ] A Prosperous Nation The requisites for prosperous State are industrious producers. [ More... ] Fortifications Fortifications are as important for the prince who, confidents of his strength, sets out on aggressive operation. [ More... ] A Well Filled Exchequer There is nothing so effective as wealth, which has the quality of giving worth even to worthless men. [ More... ] Efficiency In Action We have here couplets dealing with the principle to be observed by an efficient minister. [ More... ] The Offensive The chapter of Kural devoted to aggressive action by princes displays remarkable practical wisdom. [ More... ] The Army Among all that a State should possess the most important is good army. [ More... ] Valour In beautiful relief against the general did acetic style of Kural, here and there we land n sparkling poetry. [ More... ] About Envoys And Messengers The qualification essential for a successful envoy are an affectionate temperament. [ More... ] Enemies Even in jest do not entertain the wish to make an enemy of any one. [ More... ] On Citizenship Kidseyal vogal is how to be a good citizen. [ More... ]

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Published on: 2003-02-06 (7965 reads)