The Kural
The text itself, structured into three parts on Righteousness, Politics, and Love.
Part I—Righteousness
The work itself, referenced as the source of verses and teachings on virtue and destiny.
Part II—Wealth
The text itself; its second part is described as twice the size of the first and thrice that of the third.
Part III—Love
The text being discussed, praised for its deep analysis of love and its universal moral thread.
The Verse
The work itself is described as a perfect masterpiece, a tiny instrument containing profound thoughts.
Parimêlajahar
The ancient Tamil moral text, preserved and interpreted by Parimêlajahar, and a source of inspiration for just rule.
The Kural
The central text being discussed, comprising 1330 couplets.
I: In Praise of the Lord
The text itself, containing the verses of praise.
III: The Greatness of Those Who Have Renounced the World
The text itself, which is the source of the teachings on ascetic greatness.
IV: The Glorification of Righteousness
The text of the Kural itself is the subject, delivering teachings on righteousness.
Section I: The Life of the Householder
The text itself, containing the verses on householder duties.
Family Life
The text itself, which is the source of the teachings on family life.
VII: Offspring
The text itself, which is the source of the verses on offspring.
Love
The chapter is a direct excerpt from the Kural, presenting its teachings on love.
IX: Hospitality
The text containing the teachings on hospitality.
X: Kindness of Speech
The text itself, embodying the teachings on speech.
XII: Uprightness of Heart
The Kural is the source of the aphorisms on uprightness of heart, presenting moral teachings.
XIV: Purity of Conduct
The chapter is drawn from the Kural's teachings on the value of purity of conduct.
XV: Non-Desiring of Another Man’s Wife
The text itself, containing the moral teachings of this chapter.
XVII: Non-Envying
The Kural is the source of the teachings on non-envying.
XVIII: Non-Coveting
The Kural is the source of the teachings on non-coveting.
XIX: Refraining from Slander
The chapter is a direct excerpt from the Kural, teaching the importance of avoiding slander.
XX: Refraining from Vain Speaking
The text of the Kural itself is the source of the teachings on vain speaking.
XXI: Fear of Evildoing
The text itself, containing the aphorisms on evildoing and its consequences.
XXII: Complaisance
The chapter is a direct excerpt from the Kural, teaching the virtue of complaisance.
Charity
The text of the Kural itself is the source of the aphorisms on charity.
Glory
The text itself is the source of the teachings on glory.
Section II: The Life of the Ascetic
The text itself, which provides the foundational verses on ascetic life and spiritual discipline.
Mercy
The chapter is a direct excerpt from the Kural, emphasizing mercy as the chiefest wealth.
XXVI: Abjuring of Flesh-Meat
The text containing the moral teachings on non-killing and vegetarianism.
XXVII: Tapas
The text itself, which is the source of the teachings on tapas.
XXVIII: Imposture
The text itself, which provides the moral teachings against hypocrisy.
XXIX: Abstaining from Fraud
The Kural is the source of the teachings in this chapter, personified as the voice of wisdom.
XXX: Truthfulness
The text itself, which is the source of the verses on truthfulness.
XXXI: Abstaining from Anger
The text itself, containing the verses on anger and forbearance.
XXXII: Non-Injuring
The text itself, containing the verses on non-injury.
Non-Killing
The text containing the teachings on non-killing
Subdivision B: Wisdom
The text itself, embodying wisdom and providing the framework for the chapter.
XXXIV: The Vanity of All Things
The chapter presents verses from the Kural on the vanity of worldly life.
XXXV: Renunciation
The text itself, containing the verses on renunciation.
Realisation of the Truth
The text itself, which conveys the teachings on discerning reality from illusion.
XXXVII: The Killing of Desire
The text itself, which articulates the doctrine of desirelessness and its spiritual rewards.
XXXVIII: Destiny
The Kural is the source of the aphorisms on destiny, presenting the philosophical teachings of the chapter.
Part II: Wealth
The text itself, as the source of the teachings on wealth.
Section I: The Prince
The text providing the foundational principles for kingly duties.
XXXIX: The Qualifications of the Prince
The text itself, from which the chapter's verses are drawn.
Learning
The text itself, containing the teachings on learning.
XLI: The Neglecting of Instruction
The text itself is the source of the aphorisms on neglecting instruction.
XLII: Listening to the Instruction of the Wise
The text of the Kural itself is the source of the teachings on listening to the wise.
XLIII: The Understanding
The text itself, which contains these teachings on the power of understanding.
XLIV: Eschewing of Faults
The text itself, containing the verses on fault avoidance.
XLV: Courting the Friendship of the Worthy
The text itself, providing the teachings on friendship.
XLVI: Keeping Aloof from Vulgar Company
The text itself, which is the source of the verses on keeping aloof from vulgar company.
XLVII: Deliberation Before Action
The text containing the teachings on deliberation.
XLVIII: Judging of Strength
The text itself, containing the teachings on strength and prudence.
Judging of Place
The text itself, containing the maxims on judging place in warfare.
LI: Testing of Men for Confidence
The text itself, containing the aphorisms on trust and character assessment.
LII: Testing and Employment of Men
The text containing the maxims on statecraft and employment.
LIII: Cherishing of Kindred
The text itself, containing the verses on cherishing kindred.
LIV: Guarding Against Insouciance
The text itself, conveying the teachings on guarding against insouciance.
LV: Just Government
The text itself, from which the verses on just government are drawn.
LVI: Tyranny
The text of the Kural itself, delivering teachings on tyranny and just rule.
LVII: Abstaining from Deeds That Cause Trepidation
The text itself, containing the verses on abstaining from deeds that cause trepidation.
LVIII: Considerateness
The chapter is a direct excerpt from the Kural, teaching the value of considerateness.
LIX: The Service of Intelligence
The text itself, offering aphorisms on governance and espionage.
LXI: Abstention from Sloth
The text itself, which is the source of the teachings on sloth.
LXII: Manly Exertion
The Kural is referenced as the source of the teachings on manly exertion and the value of industry.
LXIII: Intrepidity in the Face of Misfortune
The chapter presents the Kural's teachings on intrepidity and resilience in adversity.
Section II: The Members of the Body Politic
The text itself, which outlines the duties and virtues of the body politic.
LXIV: The Councillor of State
The text itself, from which the verses on statecraft are drawn.
LXV: Eloquence
The text itself, which contains these teachings on the power and discipline of speech.
LXVI: Purity of Action
The text itself, containing the teachings on righteous conduct.
LXVII: Decision of Character
The text itself, containing the teachings on resolve and perseverance.
LXIX: The Ambassador
The text itself, containing the teachings on the ambassador's role.
LXX: Comporting Oneself Before Princes
The text itself, from which the chapter's maxims are drawn.
LXXI: Judging by Looks
The text being expounded in this chapter.
LXXIII: Self-Confidence Before an Audience
The chapter is part of the Kural's teachings on the virtue of confident discourse.
LXXIV: The Country
The text is drawn from the Kural, presenting its teachings on the ideal country.
LXXV: Fortresses
The text itself, containing the verses on fortresses.
LXXVI: The Acquisition of Wealth
The chapter is a direct excerpt from the Kural, presenting its teachings on wealth.
LXXVII: The Characteristics of the Army
The text itself, which is the source of the chapter's teachings on military characteristics.
LXXVIII: The Self-Abandon of the Warrior
The text itself, containing the verses on warrior conduct.
LXXIX: Friendship
The text itself, which contains the teachings on friendship being quoted and explained.
LXXX: Testing of Fitness for Friendship
The text containing the aphorisms on friendship.
LXXXI: Intimacy
The chapter's verses articulate the nature of intimacy in friendship.
LXXXIII: False Friendship
The text of the Kural itself delivers the teachings on false friendship.
LXXXIV: Folly
The text of the Kural itself delivers the teachings on folly.
LXXXV: Conceited Folly
The chapter's verses are attributed to the Kural, offering moral teachings on folly and conceit.
LXXXVI: The Defiant Spirit
The text itself, embodying the wisdom against the defiant spirit.
LXXXVII: The Characteristics of Enemies
The text that contains these teachings on statecraft and enmity.
LXXXVIII: The Appraising of Enemies
The text containing the maxims on appraising enemies.
LXXXIX: The Traitor in the Camp
The text itself, which contains these teachings on treachery.
XC: Refraining from Offending the Great Ones
The text itself, containing the verses on refraining from offending the Great Ones.
XCIII: Abstaining from Drink
The chapter is a set of verses from the Kural, teaching the evils of drink.
Section III: Miscellaneous
The text being discussed and paraphrased in this section.
XCVII: Honour
The text itself, containing the verses on honour.
XCIX: Worth
The chapter is a direct excerpt from the Kural, expounding on the nature of worth.
C: Courteousness
The chapter's teachings are attributed to the Kural, emphasizing courteousness as a core virtue.
CI: The Wealth That Is Not Put to Good Use
The text of the Kural itself is the subject, delivering moral teachings on the proper use of wealth.
CII: Sensitiveness to Shame
The text itself is the source of the teachings on shame.
CIII: Advancing the Family
The text itself, containing the teachings on family duty and exertion.
CIV: Husbandry
The text itself, containing the verses that praise husbandry and describe the virtues of the farmer.
CV: Indigence
The text of the Kural itself is the source of the verses on indigence.
CVII: The Dread of Beggary
The text itself, which is the source of the verses on beggary.
CVIII: The Degraded Life
The text of the Kural itself is the source of the aphorisms describing the degraded life.
Part III: Love
The text itself, containing the teachings on love examined in this chapter.
Section I: The Secret Marriage
The text providing the thematic foundation for secret marriage and its emotional dynamics.
CX: Reading of the Heart by Signs
The text containing these verses on reading the heart by signs.
CXI: In Praise of the Union
The text containing these verses on love and union.
CXII: In Praise of Her Beauty
The text containing this poetic chapter on beauty.
CXIV: Overpassing the Bounds of Decorum
The text itself, as the source of these verses on love and decorum.
Section II: Chastity
The text itself, embodying the principles of chastity.
CXVI: The Pangs of Separation
The text containing the verses that articulate the wife's sorrow.
CXX: Anguish of Heart That the Husband Feeleth Not as Oneself
The text of the Kural itself is referenced as the source of these verses on love and longing.
CXXII: In Praise of the Dream-State
The text from which this chapter is drawn, reflecting themes of love and separation.
CXXIX: The Impatience of the Pair to Fly to Each Other’s Arms
The text itself is the source of the verses describing the lovers' impatience.
CXXXI: Bouderie
The text of the Kural is the source of the verses and dialogues presented in this chapter.
Endnotes
The text being annotated throughout the endnotes.
