Tirukkural- English Translation By Tiruvachakamani

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Foreword A poetic translation of the Tirukkural, in possession of able rendering of this unique Tamil classic into English Verse, which is without exaggeration, almost adequate to the original. K.M. Balasubramaniam who has been awarded the title of Tiruvachaka- mani "the Jewel of Tiruvachakam" for his outstanding English translation of the famous Tiruvachakam, has now prepared this translation of the Tirukkural into English; his is the last and most recent attempt in this direction and let us say at once that-though some readers may have some reservations-it will be rather difficult to surpass it.

As far as I know, the two best translations of Tirukkural had been till this day, Graul's old German version, philologically exact but somewhat cumbrous in the German way; and V.V.S. Iyer's rather free and inexact but vigorous and very readable English translation. Recently, Tirukkural was translated into Russian (a good, assiduous and scrupulous prosaic version) by my colleague and friend, J.J.Clasov-the first rendering of this Tamil classic into any Slavonic language.

I have myself tried only at a few selected Kuralvenpas to be given in Czech verse: they were published from time to time in a journal and I do not think they were quite successful. Poetry should by translated by poetry only-this is one of our fundamental tenets, one of the firm points of departure for any serious and conscientious translator in our country. And somehow have never believed that the wonderfully concise and terse Kuralvenpa may be translated into any other verse.

Preface Thirukkural, the great Tamil classic, has been translated into many languages, Oriental and European. Particularly in English, many translations are available. The latest addition to this is the work done by Sri.K.M. Balasubramaniam, familiarly known to the Tamil world as Tiruvachakamani. The translation of the Tamil couplets in the same form in English has been done in an admirable way, bringing out as far as possible the full meaning of the original work. Notes and Comments provided at the end make the book all the more useful, not only to those who will be studying this classic for the first time, but even to those who are well versed in it. I hope this work will receive the welcome in the literary world, which it richly deserves.

Introduction I work by Sri.K.M. Bays to intrukkural enjoys the rare privilege of being loved at home and admired abroad, and has earned discriminating tributes from foreign scholars who have come into contact with this ancient language and its literature. Beginning with G.U. Pope, Drew and Lazarus, foreign scholars and savants have vied with one another in delving into the riches of this treasure- house of knowledge and sharing them with the peoples of the world. Tirukkural has been translated into German and other European languages too. One need not be surprised how this piece of Tamil literature got translated into so many foreign languages when one realizes that it is perhaps the one ethical work which goes beyond geographical boundaries and barriers of language and religion and transcends both time and place.

Saint Valluvar's approach to moral doctrine is marked by a very thorough knowledge of human psychology and a desire to help imperfect humanity to achieve its goal of perfection. His general principles hold good for all time and at all places. His prophetic outlook embraced the entire humanity in one sweep and deduced the common minimum moral standard which every individual should follow, if society were to progress on just and sound lines. Whereas other moralists attempted to reform society as such, Valluvar concentrated on reforming and correcting the individual, so that the cumulative effect of the individuals' reform may project itself into and permeate society.

**Contents and Sample Pages**