Thirukkural Transliteration & Translation- Thamizh-English

Thirukkural is neither a Testament, nor a Scripture, or a Heavenly Dispensation; it is a Treatise on Social Life, it a the embodiment of enlightened wisdom; the hallmark of an ancient civilization, with a rich heritage, tradition and culture reflected in a distinctive language and diction.

It is a literary masterpiece of verses with poetic excellence,. brevity and crispness, rhythm and syntax, easy to grasp and remember.

It is a lighthouse guiding the ships of Virtue, Wealth and Love; a treasure-trove of knowledge based on reasonable, analytical, practical, scientific and worldly outlook; moulded in the norms of virtue, aesthetics, kindness, hospitality, sociability, munificence, service, etc. cemented in family life.

It is not constrained by the tenets of any religious faith or dogma but adopts and highlights the virtues in many of them, in tune with innate senses.

The expositions are framed in three parts containing 133 Chapters of ten verses each.

This attempt to present "Thirukkural in English' (following the original verses with interpretations in Tamizh) is not a translation but a simple rendering in a language of common usage, more in prose than in verse, of ideas from the depths of wisdom of a peerless Seer, whose vision transcends time and place. This is meant to convey ThiruvaLLuvar's message to those who are more at ease with English.

The approach is to have a fresh look, not shackled by pre-conceived notions of times yore; to highlight the relevance to present day life and times ahead, of norms which can be kept in mind and adopted day to day, to enrich our lives.

As every lover of Tamizh knows THIRUKKURAL 'the book of All Times' has been rendered into almost all the leading languages of the world. The translators of this great work have taken to the task as a labour of love.

The earlier works on Thirukkural in English by great authors like G.U. Pope, Rev. Drew and John Lasarus, Rajaji, V.V.S. lyer, Yogi Suddhaanandha Bharathi, Kasturi Srinivasan and others were done atleast some decades back; they are either in English metric verses or in prose, appealing to the intelligentsia..

The author of this book has taken pains to use simple English so that, he can reach the common people possessing a working knowledge of this international language. At the same time, he has been able to render it in two line couplets with rhythm, syntax and diction wherever it naturally fits in and adorns.

It is not an easy job to bring out the spirit of the learned couplets of the original into a foreign language, but an honest attempt has been made in this volume to explain the multifaceted approach of the genius of Thiruvalluvar.

No area of human thought has been left untouched by this great inspiring monumental literary work by the Tamizh Saint. He has delved deep into all aspects of life of the people of his times, like values and morals, family and social life, service and munificence, dignity and manners, agriculture, economics and trade, health and medicine, politics and statecraft, management and human relations, communication skills, administration and intelligence, romance and chaste wedlock. Like Shakespeare, he has been a Jack of all trades, and has left his mark shining on all that he has touched.

ThiruvaLLuvarhas rendered his great treatise in such a way that it has sustaining interest even after 2000 years. If only we follow his advice at least from now on, we can regain our past stature among the Comity of Nations and shine as a model for others to follow.

**Contents and Sample Pages**