Thiruvalluvar and Antonio Machado on seeing clearly and acting.
From chapter 67, “Firmness of Action.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
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Thiruvalluvar and Antonio Machado on seeing clearly and acting.
668
Enact without waiting or wavering
Each action seen clearly
கலங்காது கண்ட வினைக்கண் துளங்காது
தூக்கங் கடிந்து செயல்
From chapter 67, “Firmness of Action.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Help doesn’t have to be big to be big. A verse on helping in time.
102
Even if small help given in time—far
Far larger than the world
காலத்தி னாற்செய்த நன்றி சிறிதெனினும்
ஞாலத்தின் மாணப் பெரிது
From chapter 11, “Gratitude.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on the sweetness of children’s voices.
66
Those who don’t hear the babble of their children
Call the flute and the lyre sweet
குழலினிது யாழினி தென்பதம் மக்கள்
மழலைச்சொல் கேளா தவர்
From chapter 7, “Having Children.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on what makes a true country.
731
The union of unfailing yields untarnished wealth and people
Of wisdom—that is a country
தள்ளா விளையுளும் தக்காரும் தாழ்விலாச்
செல்வரும் சேர்வது நாடு
From chapter 74, “Country.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on endurance and having energy.
597
Even stung by arrows the elephant stands tall—even stung
By failure the sturdy do not slacken
சிதைவிடத் தொல்கார் உரவோர் புதையம்பிற்
பட்டுப்பா டூன்றுங் களிறு
From chapter 60, “Having Energy.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston