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The Kural

Thiruvalluvar, translated by V. V. S. Aiyar

Philosophyabout 4 h 30 min of listening

An Indian weaver-philosopher expounds on the subjects of righteousness, wealth, and love.

Contents

  1. Imprint
  2. Preface
  3. Thiruvalluvar
  4. The Kural
  5. Part I—Righteousness
  6. Part II—Wealth
  7. Part III—Love
  8. The Verse
  9. Parimêlajahar
  10. The Kural
  11. I: In Praise of the Lord
  12. II: In Praise of Rain
Show all 158 chapters
  1. III: The Greatness of Those Who Have Renounced the World
  2. IV: The Glorification of Righteousness
  3. Part I: Righteousness
  4. Section I: The Life of the Householder
  5. V: Family Life
  6. VI: The Blessings of a Good Helpmate
  7. VII: Offspring
  8. VIII: Love
  9. IX: Hospitality
  10. X: Kindness of Speech
  11. XI: Gratitude
  12. XII: Uprightness of Heart
  13. XIII: Self-Control
  14. XIV: Purity of Conduct
  15. XV: Non-Desiring of Another Man’s Wife
  16. XVI: Forgiveness
  17. XVII: Non-Envying
  18. XVIII: Non-Coveting
  19. XIX: Refraining from Slander
  20. XX: Refraining from Vain Speaking
  21. XXI: Fear of Evildoing
  22. XXII: Complaisance
  23. XXIII: Charity
  24. XXIV: Glory
  25. Section II: The Life of the Ascetic
  26. Subdivision A: Discipline
  27. XXV: Mercy
  28. XXVI: Abjuring of Flesh-Meat
  29. XXVII: Tapas
  30. XXVIII: Imposture
  31. XXIX: Abstaining from Fraud
  32. XXX: Truthfulness
  33. XXXI: Abstaining from Anger
  34. XXXII: Non-Injuring
  35. XXXIII: Non-Killing
  36. Subdivision B: Wisdom
  37. XXXIV: The Vanity of All Things
  38. XXXV: Renunciation
  39. XXXVI: Realisation of the Truth
  40. XXXVII: The Killing of Desire
  41. XXXVIII: Destiny
  42. Part II: Wealth
  43. Section I: The Prince
  44. XXXIX: The Qualifications of the Prince
  45. XL: Learning
  46. XLI: The Neglecting of Instruction
  47. XLII: Listening to the Instruction of the Wise
  48. XLIII: The Understanding
  49. XLIV: Eschewing of Faults
  50. XLV: Courting the Friendship of the Worthy
  51. XLVI: Keeping Aloof from Vulgar Company
  52. XLVII: Deliberation Before Action
  53. XLVIII: Judging of Strength
  54. XLIX: Judging the Opportune Moment
  55. L: Judging of Place
  56. LI: Testing of Men for Confidence
  57. LII: Testing and Employment of Men
  58. LIII: Cherishing of Kindred
  59. LIV: Guarding Against Insouciance
  60. LV: Just Government
  61. LVI: Tyranny
  62. LVII: Abstaining from Deeds That Cause Trepidation
  63. LVIII: Considerateness
  64. LIX: The Service of Intelligence
  65. LX: Energy
  66. LXI: Abstention from Sloth
  67. LXII: Manly Exertion
  68. LXIII: Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
  69. Section II: The Members of the Body Politic
  70. LXIV: The Councillor of State
  71. LXV: Eloquence
  72. LXVI: Purity of Action
  73. LXVII: Decision of Character
  74. LXVIII: The Conduct of Affairs
  75. LXIX: The Ambassador
  76. LXX: Comporting Oneself Before Princes
  77. LXXI: Judging by Looks
  78. LXXII: Judging of the Audience
  79. LXXIII: Self-Confidence Before an Audience
  80. LXXIV: The Country
  81. LXXV: Fortresses
  82. LXXVI: The Acquisition of Wealth
  83. LXXVII: The Characteristics of the Army
  84. LXXVIII: The Self-Abandon of the Warrior
  85. LXXIX: Friendship
  86. LXXX: Testing of Fitness for Friendship
  87. LXXXI: Intimacy
  88. LXXXII: The Friendship That Injureth
  89. LXXXIII: False Friendship
  90. LXXXIV: Folly
  91. LXXXV: Conceited Folly
  92. LXXXVI: The Defiant Spirit
  93. LXXXVII: The Characteristics of Enemies
  94. LXXXVIII: The Appraising of Enemies
  95. LXXXIX: The Traitor in the Camp
  96. XC: Refraining from Offending the Great Ones
  97. XCI: Submission to Wife Government
  98. XCII: Prostitutes
  99. XCIII: Abstaining from Drink
  100. XCIV: Gambling
  101. XCV: Medicine
  102. Section III: Miscellaneous
  103. XCVI: Respectability of Birth
  104. XCVII: Honour
  105. XCVIII: Greatness
  106. XCIX: Worth
  107. C: Courteousness
  108. CI: The Wealth That Is Not Put to Good Use
  109. CII: Sensitiveness to Shame
  110. CIII: Advancing the Family
  111. CIV: Husbandry
  112. CV: Indigence
  113. CVI: Begging
  114. CVII: The Dread of Beggary
  115. CVIII: The Degraded Life
  116. Part III: Love
  117. Section I: The Secret Marriage
  118. CIX: The Wound That Beauty Inflicteth
  119. CX: Reading of the Heart by Signs
  120. CXI: In Praise of the Union
  121. CXII: In Praise of Her Beauty
  122. CXIII: The Glorification of Love
  123. CXIV: Overpassing the Bounds of Decorum
  124. CXV: The Public Humour
  125. Section II: Chastity
  126. CXVI: The Pangs of Separation
  127. CXVII: Bewailing the Pangs of Separation and Pining Away
  128. CXVIII: The Wasting of the Eyes Through Wistful Longing
  129. CXIX: Bewailing the Pallor of Pining Love
  130. CXX: Anguish of Heart That the Husband Feeleth Not as Oneself
  131. CXXI: Sighing for the Absent One
  132. CXXII: In Praise of the Dream-State
  133. CXXIII: Sighing at the Approach of Evening
  134. CXXIV: The Wasting Away of Her Lovely Form
  135. CXXV: Addressing One’s Own Heart
  136. CXXVI: The Losing of the Sense of a Dignified Reserve
  137. CXXVII: The Longing of the Lovers to Meet
  138. CXXVIII: Reading the Secret Thought
  139. CXXIX: The Impatience of the Pair to Fly to Each Other’s Arms
  140. CXXX: Chiding the Heart
  141. CXXXI: Bouderie
  142. CXXXII: The Finesses of Bouderie
  143. CXXXIII: The Charm of Bouderie
  144. Endnotes
  145. Colophon
  146. Uncopyright

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Source: Standard Ebooks. CC0 1.0 (Standard Ebooks edition); the text is in the public domain

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