The Kural (Penguin Classics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Tiruvalluvar (Author), P. S. Sundaram (Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995 | Series: Penguin Classics

This is one of the earliest classics of Tamil literature and dates the period between the 2nd century BC and the 8th century AD. It is a book of ethics, in the style of Aristotle's "Ethics", but different in that it is written in the form of couplets - 1330 in all.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Tamil

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140445838
• ISBN-13: 978-0140445831
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,484,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic of Tamil Literature, January 19, 1999

By 

Randy LeJeune - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kural (Penguin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

This set of approximately 1300 couplets is divided into three subcategories: Virtue, wealth and love. It gives plenty of advice in the Hindu and Jain tradition, not of asceticism, but of one who is active in the world, but wishes to be a good person and to have a good practical understanding of his or her faith. The poetry is simple but effective. Valluvar is on par with Valmiki in my opinion -- the reader of this short little book (167 pages) will come to learn that Tamil is juat as important a source of religious ideas as is Sanskrit and it is in use even today. A must-read for all seekers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on how to live in the World, October 12, 2007

By 

Deepak Singh "Seeking the Truth" (Chicago USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kural (Penguin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

Have read this book many a times and have been a constant companion in the times of distress and it has taught me many a things about like.

Sage advice on life ,on politics has been just great.He tell you with his razor sharp insight about life as to what is this world really like.

He tells you the reality and how to handle the world.

1300 shloks or Couplets are the best in the world and are applicable to indian and to the western Audince.

Buy it and follow it you will not regret the Great SAGE's Advice on Life