திருக்குறள்- அறத்துப்பால்- குறள் மட்டும்

THIRUKKURAL- ARATHUPAAL-ON VIRTUE (Kural without meaning)

Thirukkural, which means ‘Holy Kural’, is the work of the great saint of South India, named Thiruvalluvar. It is a book for all humanity and for all times. A world that lives by its teachings shall enjoy eternal peace, harmony, health, wealth, power, grace, and bliss.
The word ‘Kural’ refers to a short verse of only two lines. Ten such verses make up a single chapter of the book called the Thirukkural. There are 133 chapters so that there are 1330 couplets or two-lined verses that make up the Thirukkural. Each couplet contains a single complete idea. Although poets generally find it rather difficult to write in a couplet form, Thiruvalluvar handles this medium with remarkable skill and ease. He does not waste words. The ideas come to us quietly, in a style that is both graceful and beautiful at the same time.
Each of the 133 chapters is headed by one major idea such as ‘Friendship’, ‘Wisdom’, ‘Justice’, and so on. The ten verses under each major idea give the poet opportunity to expand on each idea fully. In the first and second parts, known as the ‘Arthuppaal’ and Porutpaal, Thiruvalluvar makes comments on what is good and what is bad. He describes the life and lays down a code of conduct or behavior. On Love’, in ‘Inbatthuppal’ the saint portrays a mood rather than conduct. This section is of use only to householders. It is a very deep and subtle portion of the Thirukkural.
Thiruvalluvar was one of the greatest social philosophers of the ancient world. His writings show that he was interested not only in the behaviors and conduct and bearing of a person but also in the harmonious development of society. Thirukkural should be used in everyday life by everyone. Its verses should be memorized by heart as much as possible, meditated upon, and quoted freely as our very own. We would sound wise if we do remember and share these jewels.
It was indeed a pleasure for me to explore these gems and find them very relevant in the substance even today. It stands suitable not only with the change in times across two millenniums but also proves to be absolutely universal.
I sincerely wish that the children of our generation and the next are guided by the parents and the teachers, to learn and enjoy the essence of ‘Thirukkural’ and take it down in time, generation after generation, to make it be treated throughout the world, as a global guideline of ‘Morals for the Mankind’.

-Srirangam Ramesh