Tirukkural திருக்குறள்

Couplets from Thiruvalluvar’s Tamil classic on virtue, wealth and love, with modern paraphrase.

Kural 1 · The Praise of GodAs the letter A stands at the beginning of all writing, so the Primal One stands at the beginning of all exis…
Kural 4 · The Praise of GodThose who reach the feet of the One who is beyond desire and aversion find no affliction anywhere.
Kural 21 · The Excellence of RainSince the world sustains itself through rain from above, rain itself is praised as the most generous of all.
Kural 50 · Domestic LifeThe householder is the pillar of support for three orders of life — the ascetics, the students, and the elder…
Kural 61 · Seeking a WifeA wife who is worthy of her home and partner gives the man the strength to face the world.
Kural 93 · HospitalityFor those who honour guests with genuine care, everything that comes in due course will be worthy of receivin…
Kural 121 · GratitudeEven the whole earth and sky together cannot repay help given before it was asked.
Kural 131 · The Impartial MindThe great conquer anger by turning it against itself; from anger comes only harm.
Kural 161 · Not Tiring OneselfOne who masters themselves without fear can transform even poison into nectar.
Kural 214 · ModestyPulling inward like a tortoise — protecting one's wholeness — is what separates the high from the low.
Kural 241 · CompassionAs those without wealth have no standing in this world, those without compassion have no standing in the worl…
Kural 281 · Knowing What is RightWisdom is to perceive the true nature of a thing regardless of who speaks it or where it is heard.
Kural 384 · Avoiding LazinessYielding to laziness in one's conduct is the greatest disgrace to one's dignity and heritage.
Kural 391 · The Wealth of IndustryOne who has initiative as his ally cannot be easily defeated by anyone.
Kural 441 · LearningLearn thoroughly whatever is worth learning; then stand firm in accordance with what you have learned.
Kural 481 · FriendshipAssociation with those who speak badly but cannot reach you in wakefulness will still reach you in your dream…
Kural 521 · Bad FriendshipEven those who were good become bad through continued association with the bad.
Kural 611 · ActionDo not begin any undertaking you cannot complete; but once begun, one of dignity must see it through.
Kural 631 · PerseveranceWhen adversity comes, meet it with a smile; nothing overcomes difficulty as well as this.
Kural 702 · Considering One's CapacityAct only after weighing: the strength required by the task, your own strength, the adversary's strength, and…
Kural 771 · The Art of ActionOne who proceeds with both action and desire together, holding each in its place, preserves the stability of…
Kural 802 · LoveTo see one's own children grow in wisdom is the sweetest joy for all living beings on this wide earth.
Kural 1000 · Virtue of WomenWhen there is no domestic happiness, all the good of life is as nothing, and sorrow swallows everything.
Kural 1061 · The Joys of ReunionEven a moment's glimpse — the size of a millet seed — creates a longing as vast as a palmyra tree.
Kural 1171 · The Pallor of LoveThe smouldering state of those whose hearts have been refused tells the story of longing without fulfilment.
Kural 1330 · The Last KuralWhen one person's desire moves toward another, that person's desire moves back — and that return is itself th…

Turn one idea into a daily practice. Life OS is a free, private two-minute check-in across the five pillars of a full life — with a Sunday review and a banyan that grows with you.

Practise this daily →