Why In News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural to President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS Summit.

What is Thirukkural?

Thirukkural (literally "Sacred Couplets"), also venerated as the Kural or Tamil Veda, is one of the celebrated moral and philosophical treatises in Indian literature.

  • Composed by the ancient poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar (often dated between the 3rd century BCE and the 5th century CE), capturing the intellectual maturity of ancient Tamil society.

  • Organised systematically into 133 Athikarams (chapters), each containing exactly 10 couplets, comprising a total of 1,330 couplets.

  • Crafted in the unique Tamil Kural Venba poetic meter—a four-foot first line followed by a three-foot second line (totaling seven cirs), conveying complex philosophical wisdom in terse brevity.

  • Unlike many ancient theological texts, the Kural does not preach sectarian dogmas, ritual codes, or religious deities; its ethical framework applies universally across time, geography, and creeds.

Three Major Sections 

Aram (Righteousness, Ethics, and Virtue): Encompasses 38 chapters articulating personal morality, marital ethics, truthfulness, gratitude, self-control, ascetic non-violence, and righteous domestic living.

Porul (Statecraft, Wealth, and Public Governance): Comprises 70 chapters dedicated to political science, good governance, justice, economic production, taxation, military defence, diplomacy, and citizenship.

Inbam / Kamam (Love and Human Relationships): Consists of 25 chapters exploring human affection, romantic courtship (Kalavu), and post-marital intimacy (Karpu), celebrated for poetic sensitivity.

Parallel to Classical Indian Purusharthas: Directly aligns with the foundational Indian philosophical concepts of Dharma (Aram), Artha (Porul), and Kama (Inbam), with the fourth goal, Moksha (liberation/Veedu), attained through righteous living.

Harmonising Personal Virtue with Collective Welfare: Bridges individual character with the stability of the public sphere, asserting that political prosperity cannot endure without private moral integrity.

Universal Themes

  • Virtue and Personal Integrity: Emphasises that true righteousness lies in a spotless mind, free from jealousy, deceit, wrath, and offensive speech.

  • Justice, Rule of Law, and Impartiality: Outlines the duties of a just sovereign who must investigate crimes objectively, protect the weak, and govern without tyranny or favoritism.

  • Statecraft, Fiscal Prudence, and Welfare: Dictates that a ruler's foremost duties are to create wealth, acquire revenues, safeguard state coffers, and equitably redistribute resources for public welfare.

  • Compassion, Non-Killing, and Hospitality: Extols Ahimsa (non-harming), vegetarianism, and hospitality (Virunthombal), declaring that helping strangers is the highest domestic duty.

  • Empirical Learning, Critical Inquiry, and Wisdom: Urges lifelong education, stating that true wisdom lies in discerning the essential truth in whatever is spoken, regardless of who utters it.

  • Friendship and Social Solidarity: Dedicates multiple chapters to genuine companionship, advising individuals to test loyalty before trust and abandon destructive associations.

  • Diplomacy, Envoys, and Espionage (Thoodhu): Details the qualities of an ideal diplomat—eloquence, fearlessness, loyalty, and deep legal knowledge—principles resonant with modern foreign affairs.

  • Agricultural Sanctity: Elevates farming as the foundation of civilization, asserting that farmers form the backbone of the global economy, as all other professions depend on them.

Source: HINDUSTANTIMES

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the classical Tamil work 'Thirukkural', consider the following statements:

1. It is traditionally classified under the 'Pathinenkilkanakku' of post-Sangam literature.

2. It is divided into three distinct sections (Paals): Aram (Virtue), Porul (Wealth/Polity), and Inbam (Love).

3. It is composed in the strict 'Kural Venba' poetic meter, with each couplet containing exactly seven metrical feet (cirs).

4. The work is explicitly dedicated to the worship and ritual liturgy of early Shaivite sectarian deities.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 1, 2, and 3 only

B) 2 and 4 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Thirukkural is one of the most celebrated works of the Pathinenkilkanakku (Eighteen Lesser Texts) anthology, which belongs to the post-Sangam period (often dated between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE).

Statement 2 is correct: The work is systematically divided into three main sections or Paals: Aram (Virtue/Righteousness), Porul (Wealth, Statecraft, and Social Life), and Inbam or Kamathupal (Love/Pleasure).

Statement 3 is correct: Every single couplet in the Thirukkural is composed in the Kural Venba meter. This strict structural poetic form consists of two lines, with exactly four metrical feet (cirs) in the first line and three in the second, totaling exactly seven cirs.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The Thirukkural is universally celebrated for its secular, non-denominational, and universal nature. It does not advocate for any specific religious sect, ritual liturgy, or sectarian deities like early Shaivism. Instead, it focuses on universal human ethics, moral living, and phi