Thirukkural · திருக்குறள்

Thirukkural: all 1,330 kurals with meaning

1,330 kurals · 133 chapters · 3 sections

The Thirukkural (திருக்குறள்) is Thiruvalluvar's classic of Tamil ethics: 1,330 two-line couplets called kurals, arranged in 133 chapters (அதிகாரம்) of 10 kurals each. Here you can read every kural in Tamil, with a transliteration, G. U. Pope's English verse translation from 1886 and a plain English meaning.

The work has three parts, called பால் (paal): அறத்துப்பால் on virtue, பொருட்பால் on wealth, statecraft and public life, and காமத்துப்பால் on love. Each part is divided again into இயல் (iyal), groups of related chapters. Pick a part below, or jump straight to any chapter.

How to read a kural

Every kural follows the same compact form, the குறள் வெண்பா: seven metrical feet, four on the first line and three on the second. That brevity is why kurals are quoted so often in speeches, textbooks and exam papers. Start with the Tamil, read the transliteration aloud if the script is new to you, then use the translation to check your understanding. Each chapter page shows all 10 kurals together, which is the best way to see how Thiruvalluvar builds one idea across a chapter.

Thirukkural for TNPSC aspirants

Thirukkural appears in the TNPSC syllabus in two places: the General Tamil paper tests the text itself, and the General Studies unit on the history, culture and heritage of Tamil Nadu asks about its significance and values. Our guide to Thirukkural for TNPSC explains what the syllabus lists and how questions are framed.

About the translations

The English verse on every page is G. U. Pope's translation, published in 1886. The plain English meanings come from the 19th-century prose translation by W. H. Drew and John Lazarus. Both are in the public domain. The Tamil text follows the standard chapter order and numbering used in Tamil Nadu school books.

Frequently asked questions

How many kurals are there in Thirukkural?

There are 1,330 kurals, arranged in 133 chapters of 10 kurals each. அறத்துப்பால் has 38 chapters, பொருட்பால் has 70 and காமத்துப்பால் has 25.

Who wrote the Thirukkural?

The Thirukkural is attributed to Thiruvalluvar. Very little is known about his life for certain, and scholars date the work differently, from the last centuries BCE to around the 5th century CE.

What are the three parts of Thirukkural?

அறத்துப்பால் (virtue) covers personal and domestic ethics, பொருட்பால் (wealth) covers kingship, ministers, friendship and public life, and காமத்துப்பால் (love) covers love before and after marriage.

Why is Thirukkural called உலகப் பொதுமறை?

It is called the universal scripture because its teaching is not tied to any one religion, caste or region. Its advice on virtue, governance and relationships is meant for every human being.

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