The Kural

Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural

Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, Andrew Harvey, Archana Venkatesan

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Hardback

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English

Beacon Press
23 November 2021

Poetry

A new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and friendship, bringing Tiruvalluvar's poetry and philosophy to a new generation seeking practical wisdom and spiritual sustenance

A new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and friendship, bringing Tiruvalluvar's poetry and philosophy to a new generation seeking practical wisdom and spiritual sustenance

Drawing on the poetic tradition of W. S. Merwin, Wendell Berry, and William Carlos Williams, and nurtured by 2 decades of study under Tamil scholar Dr. K. V. Ramakoti, this new translation of the Kural by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma brings English readers closer than ever to the brilliant inner and outer music of Tiruvalluvar's work and ideas.

Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural is a masterwork of poetry and practical philosophy. On par with other world classics such as the Tao Te Ching, the Kural is a compendium of 1,330 short philosophical verses, or kurals, that together cover a wide range of personal and cosmic experience, such as-

POLITICS- Harsh rule that brings idiots together-nothing Burdens the earth more

HOSPITALITY- The life that cherishes strangers each day Never falls upon ruin

FRIENDSHIP- Friendship is not a face smiling-friendship Is a heart that smiles

GREED- Those who won't give and enjoy-even with billions They have nothing

Accompanying the translation is a foreword by the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, Andrew Harvey; an introduction by the translator and scholar Archana Venkatesan; and a ""Commentary of Notes,"" in which Pruiksma elucidates key words and shares insights from important Tamil commentaries.

Rich with indelible wordplay, learning, and heart, Pruiksma's translation transforms the barrier of language into a bridge, bringing the fullness of Tiruvalluvar's poetic intensity to a new generation.

By: Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, Andrew Harvey
Foreword by: Archana Venkatesan
Imprint: Beacon Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm,
Weight: 567g
ISBN: 9780807003619
ISBN 10: 0807003611
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 23 November 2021
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Foreword by Andrew Harvey Introduction by Archana Venkatesan CHERISHING GUESTS A Translator’s Preface to Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural PART ONE: VIRTUE I. INTRODUCTION 1. In Praise of God 2. The Glory of Rain 3. The Greatness of Letting Go 4. The Imperative of Right Action II. HOUSEHOLDING 5. The Home Life 6. In Praise of One’s Life Companion 7. Having Children 8. Having Love 9. Hospitality 10. Sweet Speech 11. Gratitude 12. Fairness 13. Self-Control 14. The Possession of Conduct 15. Fidelity 16. Forbearance 17. Freedom from Envy 18. Freedom from Greed 19. Freedom from Backbiting 20. Freedom from Fruitless Speech 21. Fear of Wrongdoing 22. Knowing What Is Fitting 23. Giving 24. Renown III. RENUNCIATION 25. Compassion 26. Refusing Meat 27. Tavam 28. Unworthy Conduct 29. Freedom from Stealing 30. Truth 31. Freedom from Anger 32. Doing No Harm 33. Freedom from Killing 34. Impermanence 35. Renunciation 36. Knowing What Is Real 37. Severing from Desire IV. FATE 38. Fate PART TWO: WEALTH I. SOVEREIGNTY 39. The Splendor of Kings 40. Learning 41. Lack of Learning 42. Listening 43. The Possession of Knowledge 44. Elimination of Faults 45. Gaining the Help of the Great 46. Freedom from Smallness 47. Clarity Before Action 48. Knowing Strength 49. Knowing Time 50. Knowing Place 51. Knowing and Trusting 52. Knowing and Engaging 53. Kindness to Kindred 54. Absence of Mind 55. Good Rule 56. Harsh Rule 57. Striking No Fear 58. Eyes That Are Moved 59. Espionage 60. Having Energy 61. Freedom from Sloth 62. Mastery of Action 63. Not Being Defeated by Adversity II. THE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT 64. Ministers 65. Strength in Speech 66. Purity of Action 67. Firmness of Action 68. Ways of Action 69. Diplomacy 70. Moving with Kings 71. Reading Faces 72. Knowing an Audience 73. Not Fearing an Audience 74. Country 75. Fortresses 76. The Making of Wealth 77. The Splendor of Armies 78. The Valor of Warriors 79. Friendship 80. Examined Friendship 81. Long Friendship 82. Harmful Friendship 83. False Friendship 84. Folly 85. Presumption 86. Discord 87. Splendor for Enemies 88. Knowing an Enemy 89. Enemies Within 90. Not Scorning the Great 91. Yielding to Wives 92. Limitless Women 93. Not Drinking 94. Dice 95. Medicine III. ALL ELSE 96. Lineage 97. Honor 98. Greatness 99. Integrity 100. Having Kindness 101. Fruitless Wealth 102. Having Modesty 103. Serving Family 104. Farming 105. Want 106. Begging 107. Dread of Begging 108. Wickedness PART THREE: LOVE I. SECRET LOVE 109. Allure 110. Knowing Signs 111. The Joys of Joining 112. In Praise of Her 113. In Praise of Love 114. Down with Decorum 115. Talk II. WEDDED LOVE 116. Unbearable Absence 117. Pining Away 118. The Longings of Eyes 119. Pallor 120. The Anguish of Solitude 121. The Longing of Memory 122. Talk of Dreams 123. The Misery of Evening 124. The Drooping of Limbs 125. To Her Heart 126. Loss of Restraint 127. Longing to Reunite 128. Making Signs Known 129. Longing for Union 130. At Odds with One’s Heart 131. Sulking 132. Sulking’s Subtleties 133. Sulking and Bliss A Commentary of Notes Acknowledgments

Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma is an author, poet, performer, and teacher. His books include The Safety of Edges and Give, Eat, and Live- Poems of Avvaiyar. Pruiksma teaches writing for Cozy Grammar and has received grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, 4Culture, Artist Trust, the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, the US Fulbright Program, the American Literary Translators Association, and Oberlin Shansi. Andrew Harvey is an internationally acclaimed poet, novelist, translator, mystical scholar, and spiritual teacher. Archana Venkatesan is professor of religious studies and comparative literature at the University of California.

Reviews for The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural

This translation provides a refreshing remembrance and illustration (without the usual reprimands and dire warnings) of how to be a good steward of the planet and what it means to live a good life-a much-needed map of astonishingly humane guidance and care. -Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of World of Wonders