Swaveda

Translation

Tirukkuralதிருக்குறள்

By Tiruvaḷḷuvar. Translated by G. U. Pope, 1886. Public domain.

A Tamil classic of 1,330 short couplets (kuṟaḷ) on virtue (aṟam), wealth and statecraft (poruḷ), and love (kāmam). Conventionally dated between the 3rd century BCE and the 5th century CE. G. U. Pope's English translation is one of the most widely-cited; multiple Tamil commentarial traditions exist alongside it.

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Chapters

  1. Chapter 1

    Chapter 1: The Praise of God

  2. Chapter 2

    Chapter 2: The Excellence of Rain

  3. Chapter 3

    Chapter 3: The Greatness of Ascetics

  4. Chapter 4

    Chapter 4: Assertion of the Strength of Virtue

  5. Chapter 5

    Chapter 5: Domestic Life

  6. Chapter 6

    Chapter 6: The Goodness of the Help to Domestic Life

  7. Chapter 7

    Chapter 7: The Obtaining of Sons

  8. Chapter 8

    Chapter 8: The Possession of Love

  9. Chapter 9

    Chapter 9: Cherishing Guests

  10. Chapter 10

    Chapter 10: The Utterance of Pleasant Wordse

  11. Chapter 11

    Chapter 11: The Knowledge of Benefits Conferred: Gratitude

  12. Chapter 12

    Chapter 12: Impartiality

  13. Chapter 13

    Chapter 13: The Possession of Self-restraint

  14. Chapter 14

    Chapter 14: The Possession of Decorum

  15. Chapter 15

    Chapter 15: Not coveting another's Wife

  16. Chapter 16

    Chapter 16: The Possession of Patience, Forbearance

  17. Chapter 17

    Chapter 17: Not Envying

  18. Chapter 18

    Chapter 18: Not Coveting

  19. Chapter 19

    Chapter 19: Not Backbiting

  20. Chapter 20

    Chapter 20: The Not Speaking Profitless Words

  21. Chapter 21

    Chapter 21: Dread of Evil Deeds

  22. Chapter 22

    Chapter 22: The knowledge of what is Befitting a Man's Position

  23. Chapter 23

    Chapter 23: Giving

  24. Chapter 24

    Chapter 24: Renown

  25. Chapter 25

    Chapter 25: The Possession of Benevolence

  26. Chapter 26

    Chapter 26: The Renunciation of Flesh

  27. Chapter 27

    Chapter 27: Penance

  28. Chapter 28

    Chapter 28: Inconsistent Conduct

  29. Chapter 29

    Chapter 29: The Absence of Fraud

  30. Chapter 30

    Chapter 30: Veracity

  31. Chapter 31

    Chapter 31: The not being Angry

  32. Chapter 32

    Chapter 32: Not doing Evil

  33. Chapter 33

    Chapter 33: Not killing

  34. Chapter 34

    Chapter 34: Instability

  35. Chapter 35

    Chapter 35: Renunciation

  36. Chapter 36

    Chapter 36: Knowledge of the True

  37. Chapter 37

    Chapter 37: The Extirpation of Desire

  38. Chapter 38

    Chapter 38: Fate

  39. Chapter 39

    Chapter 39: The Greatness of a King

  40. Chapter 40

    Chapter 40: Learning

  41. Chapter 41

    Chapter 41: Ignorance

  42. Chapter 42

    Chapter 42: Hearing

  43. Chapter 43

    Chapter 43: The Possession of Knowledge

  44. Chapter 44

    Chapter 44: The Correction of Faults

  45. Chapter 45

    Chapter 45: Seeking the Aid of Great Men

  46. Chapter 46

    Chapter 46: Avoiding mean Associations

  47. Chapter 47

    Chapter 47: Acting after due Consideration

  48. Chapter 48

    Chapter 48: The Knowledge of Power

  49. Chapter 49

    Chapter 49: Knowing the fitting Time

  50. Chapter 50

    Chapter 50: Knowing the Place

  51. Chapter 51

    Chapter 51: Selection and Confidence

  52. Chapter 52

    Chapter 52: Selection and Employment

  53. Chapter 53

    Chapter 53: Cherishing one's Kindred

  54. Chapter 54

    Chapter 54: Unforgetfulness

  55. Chapter 55

    Chapter 55: The Right Sceptre

  56. Chapter 56

    Chapter 56: The Cruel Sceptre

  57. Chapter 57

    Chapter 57: Absence of 'Terrorism'

  58. Chapter 58

    Chapter 58: Benignity

  59. Chapter 59

    Chapter 59: Detectives

  60. Chapter 60

    Chapter 60: Energy

  61. Chapter 61

    Chapter 61: Unsluggishness

  62. Chapter 62

    Chapter 62: Manly Effort

  63. Chapter 63

    Chapter 63: Hopefulness in Trouble

  64. Chapter 64

    Chapter 64: The Office of Minister of state

  65. Chapter 65

    Chapter 65: Power in Speech

  66. Chapter 66

    Chapter 66: Purity in Action

  67. Chapter 67

    Chapter 67: Power in Action

  68. Chapter 68

    Chapter 68: The Method of Acting

  69. Chapter 69

    Chapter 69: The Envoy

  70. Chapter 70

    Chapter 70: Conduct in the Presence of the King

  71. Chapter 71

    Chapter 71: The Knowledge of Indications

  72. Chapter 72

    Chapter 72: The Knowledge of the Council Chamber

  73. Chapter 73

    Chapter 73: Not to dread the Council

  74. Chapter 74

    Chapter 74: The Land

  75. Chapter 75

    Chapter 75: The Fortification

  76. Chapter 76

    Chapter 76: Way of Accumulating Wealth

  77. Chapter 77

    Chapter 77: The Excellence of an Army

  78. Chapter 78

    Chapter 78: Military Spirit

  79. Chapter 79

    Chapter 79: Friendship

  80. Chapter 80

    Chapter 80: Investigation in forming Friendships

  81. Chapter 81

    Chapter 81: Familiarity

  82. Chapter 82

    Chapter 82: Evil Friendship

  83. Chapter 83

    Chapter 83: Unreal Friendship

  84. Chapter 84

    Chapter 84: Folly

  85. Chapter 85

    Chapter 85: Ignorance

  86. Chapter 86

    Chapter 86: Hostility

  87. Chapter 87

    Chapter 87: The Might of Hatred

  88. Chapter 88

    Chapter 88: Knowing the Quality of Hate

  89. Chapter 89

    Chapter 89: Enmity within

  90. Chapter 90

    Chapter 90: Not Offending the Grea

  91. Chapter 91

    Chapter 91: Being led by Women

  92. Chapter 92

    Chapter 92: Wanton Women

  93. Chapter 93

    Chapter 93: Not Drinking Palm-Wine

  94. Chapter 94

    Chapter 94: Gaming (Gambling)

  95. Chapter 95

    Chapter 95: Medicine

  96. Chapter 96

    Chapter 96: Nobility

  97. Chapter 97

    Chapter 97: Honour

  98. Chapter 98

    Chapter 98: Greatness

  99. Chapter 99

    Chapter 99: Perfectness

  100. Chapter 100

    Chapter 100: Courtesy

  101. Chapter 101

    Chapter 101: Wealth without Benefaction

  102. Chapter 102

    Chapter 102: Shame

  103. Chapter 103

    Chapter 103: The Way of Maintaining the Family

  104. Chapter 104

    Chapter 104: Agriculture

  105. Chapter 105

    Chapter 105: Poverty

  106. Chapter 106

    Chapter 106: Mendicancy

  107. Chapter 107

    Chapter 107: The Dread of Mendicancy

  108. Chapter 108

    Chapter 108: Baseness

  109. Chapter 109

    Chapter 109: Mental Disturbance caused by the Beauty of the Princess

  110. Chapter 110

    Chapter 110: Recognition of the Signs (of Mutual Love)

  111. Chapter 111

    Chapter 111: Rejoicing in the Embrace

  112. Chapter 112

    Chapter 112: The Praise of her Beauty

  113. Chapter 113

    Chapter 113: Declaration of Love's special Excellence

  114. Chapter 114

    Chapter 114: The Abandonment of Reserve

  115. Chapter 115

    Chapter 115: The Announcement of the Rumour

  116. Chapter 116

    Chapter 116: Separation unendurable

  117. Chapter 117

    Chapter 117: Complainings

  118. Chapter 118

    Chapter 118: Eyes consumed with Grief

  119. Chapter 119

    Chapter 119: The Pallid Hue

  120. Chapter 120

    Chapter 120: The Solitary Anguish

  121. Chapter 121

    Chapter 121: Sad Memories

  122. Chapter 122

    Chapter 122: The Visions of the Night

  123. Chapter 123

    Chapter 123: Lamentations at Eventide

  124. Chapter 124

    Chapter 124: Wasting Away

  125. Chapter 125

    Chapter 125: Soliloquy

  126. Chapter 126

    Chapter 126: Reserve Overcome

  127. Chapter 127

    Chapter 127: Mutual Desire

  128. Chapter 128

    Chapter 128: The Reading of the Signs

  129. Chapter 129

    Chapter 129: Desire for Reunion

  130. Chapter 130

    Chapter 130: Expostulation with Oneself

  131. Chapter 131

    Chapter 131: Pouting

  132. Chapter 132

    Chapter 132: Feigned Anger

  133. Chapter 133

    Chapter 133: The Pleasures of 'Temporary Variance