A verse on the four qualities that make a true leader.
From chapter 39, “The Splendor of Kings.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
author, poet, teacher, and performer
From and about The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural.
A verse on the four qualities that make a true leader.
382
Generosity fearlessness knowledge energy—the nature of a king
Is these four in fullness
அஞ்சாமை ஈகை அறிவூக்கம் இந்நான்கும்
எஞ்சாமை வேந்தர்க் கியல்பு
From chapter 39, “The Splendor of Kings.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
With the wonderful Fiona Moore I was delighted to explore kurals 621 and 622 from chapter 63 of THE KURAL, “Not Being Defeated by Adversity.”
Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:
Fiona Moore is a coach, mentor, and consultant with an extraordinary capacity to help people uncover the truth of who they really are beyond their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and fears.
“Simply by being the Love you are,” she writes, “you transform your world, and the whole world, for good.”
Here are the two verses we talked about, in both English and Tamil:
621
Smile at adversity—nothing
Triumphs more fully
இடுக்கண் வருங்கால் நகுக அதனை
அடுத்தூர்வ தஃதொப்ப தில்
622
When the wise look within—the flood
Of adversity vanishes
வெள்ளத் தனைய இடும்பை அறிவுடையான்
உள்ளத்தின் உள்ளக் கெடும்
From chapter 63, “Not Being Defeated by Adversity.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on the connection between learning and life.
391
Faultlessly study what is to be studied—then fit
All that you’ve studied
கற்க கசடறக் கற்பவை கற்றபின்
நிற்க அதற்குத் தக
From chapter 40, “Learning.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on giving nourishment to the ear.
412
When the ear lacks food feed a little
To the belly
செவிக்குண வில்லாத போழ்து சிறிது
வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப் படும்
From chapter 42, “Listening.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse about what it means to have a home.
81
The life of cherishing and being at home—for cherishing guests
With generosity
இருந்தோம்பி இல்வாழ்வ தெல்லாம் விருந்தோம்பி
வேளாண்மை செய்தற் பொருட்டு
From chapter 9, “Hospitality.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston