THE TIRUKKURAL

Tiruvalluvar

Translated from Tamil by Gopalkrishna Gandhi

The Tirukkural, composed in Tamil by the poet Tiruvalluvar over 2,000 years ago, is a three-part collection of 1,330 verses seeking to guide the reader through life, and is one of the most significant texts of Tamil culture. The first book, ‘Being Good,’ spells out principles for an ethical life. The second, ‘Being Politic,’ is a manual for rulers on governance and military strategy. The third, ‘Being in Love,’ is a poetic exploration of falling in love, the pain of separation, and the joy of reconciliation.

Aleph Book Company, 188 pages, Rs 399