Thirukkural


Thirukkural consists 133 Chapters and each Chapter containing 10 couplets.

They are grouped in 3 major parts with subgroups as follows:


PART I. VIRTUE

1.1. Introduction


1. The Praise of God

2. The Excellence of Rain

3. The Greatness of Ascetics

4. Assertion of the Strength of Virtue

1.2. Domestic Virtue


5. Domestic Life

6. The Goodness of the Help to Domestic Life

7. The Obtaining of Sons

8. The Possession of Love

9. Cherishing Guests

10. The Utterance of Pleasant Words

11. The Knowledge of Benefits Conferred: Gratitude

12. Impartiality

13. The Possession of Self-restraint

14. The Possession of Decorum

15. Not coveting another's Wife

16. The Possession of Patience, Forbearance

17. Not Envying

18. Not Coveting

19. Not Backbiting

20. The Not Speaking Profitless Words

21. Dread of Evil Deeds

22. The knowledge of what is Befitting a Man's Position

23. Giving

24. Renown

1.3. Ascetic Virtue


25. The Possession of Benevolence

26. The Renunciation of Flesh

27. Penance

28. Inconsistent Conduct

29. The Absence of Fraud

30. Veracity

31. The not being Angry

32. Not doing Evil

33. Not killing

34. Instability

35. Renunciation

36. Knowledge of the True

37. The Extirpation of Desire

1.4. Fate

38. Fate

PART II. WEALTH

2.1. Royalty


39. The Greatness of a King

40. Learning

41. Ignorance

42. Hearing

43. The Possession of Knowledge

44. The Correction of Faults

45. Seeking the Aid of Great Men

46. Avoiding mean Associations

47. Acting after due Consideration

48. The Knowledge of Power

49. Knowing the fitting Time

50. Knowing the Place

51. Selection and Confidence

52. Selection and Employment

53. Cherishing one's Kindred

54. Unforgetfulness

55. The Right Sceptre

56. The Cruel Sceptre

57. Absence of 'Terrorism'

58. Benignity

59. Detectives

60. Energy

61. Unsluggishness

62. Manly Effort

63. Hopefulness in Trouble

2.2. Ministers of state

64. The Office of Minister of state

65. Power in Speech

66. Purity in Action

67. Power in Action

68. The Method of Acting

69. The Envoy

70. Conduct in the Presence of the King

71. The Knowledge of Indications

72. The Knowledge of the Council Chamber

73. Not to dread the Council

2.3. The Essentials of a State


74. The Land

75. The Fortification

76. Way of Accumulating Wealth

77. The Excellence of an Army

78. Military Spirit

79. Friendship

80. Investigation in forming Friendships

81. Familiarity

82. Evil Friendship

83. Unreal Friendship

84. Folly

85. Ignorance

86. Hostility

87. The Might of Hatred

88. Knowing the Quality of Hate

89. Enmity within

90. Not Offending the Great

91. Being led by Women

92. Wanton Women

93. Not Drinking Palm-Wine

94. Gaming (Gambling)

95. Medicine

2.4. Appendix (Miscellaneous)


96. Nobility

97. Honour

98. Greatness

99. Perfectness

100. Courtesy

101. Wealth without Benefaction

102. Shame

103. The Way of Maintaining the Family

104. Agriculture

105. Poverty

106. Mendicancy

107. The Dread of Mendicancy

108. Baseness

PART III. LOVE

3.1. The Gandharva Marriage (The Pre-marital love)


109. Mental Disturbance caused by the Beauty of the Princess

110. Recognition of the Signs (of Mutual Love)

111. Rejoicing in the Embrace

112. The Praise of her Beauty

113. Declaration of Love's special Excellence

114. The Abandonment of Reserve

115. The Announcement of the Rumour

3.2. Wedded Love (The Post-marital love)


116. Separation unendurable

117. Complainings

118. Eyes consumed with Grief

119. The Pallid Hue

120. The Solitary Anguish

121. Sad Memories

122. The Visions of the Night

123. Lamentations at Eventide

124. Wasting Away

125. Soliloquy

126. Reserve Overcome

127. Mutual Desire

128. The Reading of the Signs

129. Desire for Reunion

130. Expostulation with Oneself

131. Pouting

132. Feigned Anger

133. The Pleasures of 'Temporary Variance'