திருக்குறள் - Thirukkural

குறள் 1

அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு

விளக்கம்
அகரம் எழுத்துக்களுக்கு முதன்மை; ஆதிபகவன், உலகில் வாழும் உயிர்களுக்கு முதன்மை

Couplet 1
A, as its first of letters, every speech maintains;
The "Primal Deity" is first through all the world's domains

Explanation
As the letter A is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is first in the world

Thirukkural (or the Kural) is a collection of 1330 Tamil couplets organized into 133 chapters. It was authored by Thiruvalluvar. The 1330 couplets are arranged into 3 main sections and 133 chapters. Each chapter contains 10 couplets.

1. அறத்துப்பால் - Arattuppaal: On law/virtue 
2. பொருட்பால் - Porutpaal: On wealth/politics
3. காமத்துப்பால் - Kamatuppaal: On desire/love


I can say this is the great gift to the whole universe. The reason is that it does not advocate any specific religion then prevalent in the world and this work stretches from birth to death that contains all parts of life such as law, virtue, wealth, politics, friendship, desire, love, family life, asceticism and destiny.

Throughout the work the author followed completely universal in approach. It is hence called 'ulaga podhu marai' (the world's common scripture).

Thirukkural has been translated in more than 30 languages includes Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and all major Indian languages.

The Latin translation of Thirukkural made by Constanzo Beschi in 1730 did much to make known to European intellectuals the richness and beauty of Oriental Tamil literature. In English the great GU Pope brought the Thirukkural to the western world in 1886.  

It is beyond the religion, region, language and caste. Let's come and find the 'true treasure'.


You can find this Thirukkural translation in your own languages. For Tamil and English Please visit this website http://www.gokulnath.com/thirukurals


For more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirukural

Mahatma Gandhi: What he said? To know please visit this page http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question

Update:
Here is another great resource dedicated to Thirukural http://agaram-thirukkural.blogspot.com/

Courtesy: wikipedia.org

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