INTRODUCTION
The 'Thirukkural' is undoubtedly an immortal masterpiece written for all time and for all mankind. Not only our own scholars but also Western intellectuals like Dr. G. U. Pope, Dr. Albert Scheweitzer etc., have found it to be an eternal source of inspiration containing the finest gems of thought.
Tiruvalluvar's conception of virtue is beyond all praise. Holding that Virtue in thought and action should be given foremost consideration, Tiruvalluvar lays down absolute standards of virtuous thought and action. According to him, in all fields of human activity, whether it be politics or love, there can be no compromise with unrighteous and unscrupulous principles. Viewed in this light Chanakya's conception of statecraft sounds almost Machiavellian; he was primarily a politician rather than a statesman. On the other-hand, Vatsyayana's 'Kamasutra' even though docs not wink at immorality seems to suggest ways and means of 'the primrose path to pleasure at all cost, as his parasiyam points out. But as seen earlier, Tiruvalluvar rules out either love or politics devoid of virtue as smacking of the unscrupulous.
Manu's work in Sanskrit is supposed to be the best of its kind. But his idea of society is
