A verse on what makes a person beautiful.
From chapter 10, “Sweet Speech.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Kural 540: The Tirukkural on Mind and Mindfulness
A verse on mindfulness, intention, and ease.
From chapter 54, “Absence of Mind.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
SINGING CREATURES ON A LAND THAT SINGS: A CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS HITOSHI PRUIKSMA
I recently had a beautiful conversation with my friend and fellow translator A. Anupama about my forthcoming translation of THE KURAL. We explored Tamil poetry, the ins and outs of translation, and the music of wisdom.
Kural 672: Tiruvalluvar on Action, Timing, and Delay
A verse on when—and when not—to take action.
From chapter 68, “Ways of Action.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Openness to All People: A Kural Conversation with Debra Graugnard
Kindness, Spirit, and True Nourishment
With master healer and spiritual teacher Debra Mastura Graugnard I was delighted to explore kurals 991, 992, and 1000 from chapter 100 of THE KURAL, “Having Kindness.”
Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:
- Openness to all people and the root meanings of kindness in both Tamil and English: 6:27
- Protection, the breath of spirit, and how kindness meets kindness: 12:36
- What does “birth in good family” really mean? 24:16
- True riches and true nourishment: 34:16
- A question from Debra: How has translating this book changed your life? 42:54
Here are the verses we talked about, in both English and Tamil:
From chapter 100, “Having Kindness.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Kural 1005: Tiruvalluvar on Money
A verse on the two uses of wealth.
From chapter 101, “Fruitless Wealth.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Kural 83: Tiruvalluvar on Hospitality and Safety
A verse on strangers and the paradoxical gift of openness.
From chapter 9, “Hospitality.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Thiruvalluvar’s KURAL in Raag Delhi
Raag Delhi, an online magazine on politics, culture, and society, recently shared five chapters from my new translation of THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural: “Ministers,” “Farming,” “Forbearance,” “Giving,” and “Unworthy Conduct.”
You can read the excerpts on their website:
https://www.raagdelhi.com/some-excerpts-from-thiruvalluvar-translation-by-thomas-pruiksma/
