Tirukural

by Tiruvalluvar

Part I: Virtue

Introduction

• The Praise of God
• The Excellence of Rain
• The Greatness of Ascetics
• Assertion of the Strength of Virtue

Domestic Virtue

• Domestic Life
• The Goodness of the Help to Domestic Life
• The Obtaining of Sons
• The Possession of Love
• Cherishing Guests
• The Utterance of Pleasant Words
• The Knowledge of Benefits Conferred: Gratitude
• Impartiality
• The Possession of Self-restraint
• The Possession of Decorum
• Not coveting another's Wife
• The Possession of Patience, Forbearance
• Not Envying
• Not Coveting
• Not Backbiting
• The Not Speaking Profitless Words
• Dread of Evil Deeds
• The Knowledge of What is Befitting a Man's Position
• Giving
• Renown

Ascetic Virtue

• The Possession of Benevolence
• The Renunciation of Flesh
• Penance
• Inconsistent Conduct
• The Absence of Fraud
• Veracity
• The not being Angry
• Not doing Evil
• Not killing
• Instability
• Renunciation
• Knowledge of the True
• The Extirpation of Desire

Fate

• Fate

Part II: Wealth

Royalty

• The Greatness of a King
• Learning
• Ignorance
• Hearing
• The Possession of Knowledge
• The Correction of Faults
• Seeking the Aid of Great Men
• Avoiding mean Associations
• Acting after due Consideration
• The Knowledge of Power
• Knowing the fitting Time
• Knowing the Place
• Selection and Confidence
• Selection and Employment
• Cherishing one's Kindred
• Unforgetfulness
• The Right Sceptre
• The Cruel Sceptre
• Absence of 'Terrorism'
• Benignity
• Detectives
• Energy
• Unsluggishness
• Manly Effort
• Hopefulness in Trouble

Ministers of state

• The Office of Minister of state
• Power in Speech
• Purity in Action
• Power in Action
• The Method of Acting
• The Envoy
• Conduct in the Presence of the King
• The Knowledge of Indications
• The Knowledge of the Council Chamber
• Not to dread the Council

The Essentials of a State

• The Land
• The Fortification
• Way of Accumulating Wealth
• The Excellence of an Army
• Military Spirit
• Friendship
• Investigation in forming Friendships
• Familiarity
• Evil Friendship
• Unreal Friendship
• Folly
• Ignorance
• Hostility
• The Might of Hatred
• Knowing the Quality of Hate
• Enmity within
• Not Offending the Great
• Being led by Women
• Wanton Women
• Not Drinking Palm-Wine
• Gaming (Gambling)
• Medicine

Appendix (Miscellaneous)

• Nobility
• Honour
• Greatness
• Perfectness
• Courtesy
• Wealth without Benefaction
• Shame
• The Way of Maintaining the Family
• Agriculture
• Poverty
• Mendicancy
• The Dread of Mendicancy
• Baseness

Part III: Love

The Gandharva Marriage (The Pre-marital love)

• Mental Disturbance caused by the Beauty of the Princess
• Recognition of the Signs (of Mutual Love)
• Rejoicing in the Embrace
• The Praise of her Beauty
• Declaration of Love's special Excellence
• The Abandonment of Reserve
• The Announcement of the Rumour

Wedded Love (The Post-marital love)

• Separation unendurable
• Complainings
• Eyes consumed with Grief
• The Pallid Hue
• The Solitary Anguish
• Sad Memories
• The Visions of the Night
• Lamentations at Eventide
• Wasting Away
• Soliloquy
• Reserve Overcome
• Mutual Desire
• The Reading of the Signs
• Desire for Reunion
• Expostulation with Oneself
• Pouting
• Feigned Anger
• The Pleasures of 'Temporary Variance'