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Thursday, September 21, 2017

Valluvar on Communication






Valluvar on Communication

 Dr. R. Prabhakaran

 

Introduction

The ability to communicate is not unique to human beings. Scientists and others have observed that animals communicate with other animals of their own species and sometimes with animals belonging to other species. The mode of communication by animals is distinctly different from human beings' verbal and non-verbal communication patterns. Animals use visual, auditory, tactile, chemical, and electrical communication. However, their communication is limited to gathering and sharing food, protecting themselves and their young ones from predators, informing other members of their group of imminent danger, courting their mates, etc. These communications are aimed at meeting certain basic necessities for their survival.

On the other hand, human beings can communicate by a variety of methods, and their communications are not limited to basic survival or satisfying certain biological instincts. Human beings are endowed with well-developed brains and intellectual capabilities. They can discuss abstract ideas and express complex concepts with the use of languages, tools, and other techniques.

 

Power of Speech

Human beings can express love, affection, anger, and other emotions through their speech and body language. In addition to interpersonal communication, human beings can also communicate with a multitude of people simultaneously. With the advent of modern technologies, the power of communication can even transcend the limitations of space and time. The power of speech can be used for positive as well as negative purposes. Almost two thousand years ago, Valluvar recognized the power of speech, and he says that it is the chief among all the gifts a man can possess.

 

The gift of speech is indeed a special gift, and it stands apart from other gifts. (kural– 641)

 

Speech has the potential to cause good and bad consequences. While the demagoguery of Adolf Hitler laid the foundation for hatred and war, the speeches of Sir Winston Churchill encouraged Great Britain to fight against Adolf Hitler. United States President John F. Kennedy’s speech motivated the USA to take the lead in space exploration. The speeches of Rev. Martin Luther King inspired the USA to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in the USA. There are other examples of speeches by famous leaders that have altered the course of human history. The impact of speech is equally powerful in interpersonal communications also. A kind and gentle word from a friend is a great consolation in times of distress. Whereas an unkind, harsh and offending word stays like a wound that never heals. The following kural by Valluvar warns us to guard against blemishes in our speech.

Since good and evil consequences may arise from speech, it is wise to

guard against blemishes in speech.                                                                (kural – 642)

 

 

Valluvar on Public Speaking

Public speaking is the act of performing a speech by an individual to a live audience. The objective of public speaking is to inform, persuade, or entertain the audience. The art of public speaking was highly developed in ancient Greece and Rome. There were experts who taught public speaking techniques to others for a fee. In ancient Greece, citizens spoke on their own behalf rather than having professionals like modern lawyers speak on their behalf. Any citizen who wished to succeed in court, politics, or social life had to learn the techniques of public speaking. Techniques for public speaking were first taught by a group of teachers called Sophists, who were notable for teaching paying students how to speak effectively using the methods they had developed. Apart from the sophists, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle also developed their own theories of public speaking and taught those principles to students who wanted to learn the skills necessary for public speaking. Plato and Aristotle taught these principles in schools they founded, The Academy and The Lyceum, respectively.

 

Like the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, Valluvar also offers his own advice for effective public speaking. In the Kural, Valluvar’s ideas on public speaking can be found in the section dealing with the characteristics, duties, and responsibilities of a minister. In those days, it was the minister's duty to carry out the orders of the king. This aspect of the minister’s job required considerable skills in the art of diplomacy. He had to persuade others to accept the king’s mandate and even negotiate terms with the king’s enemies. So, the minister had to be adept in the art of public speaking. But, nowadays, public speaking is a necessary skill for most professionals and politicians. Valluvar’s advice on public speaking was appropriate not only for the ministers of his day but it is still useful to anyone who needs to perform the act of public speaking. Valluvar was a genius in offering advice on many matters, and his advice is eternally valid and universally applicable. His advice on public speaking is no exception. In the following paragraphs, Valluvar’s ideas on public speaking are presented.

Mastery of the Subject: Dale Carnegie (1888 –1955) was an American writer, lecturer, and developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. In his book, The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking, he lists several guidelines for effective public speaking. His first advice is: Speak about something you have earned the right to talk about through experience and study. This is precisely what Valluvar said almost 2000 years ago. Valluvar strongly favors education and mastery of the subject matter for a speaker before he would venture to address an assembly of learned men. He says that if a man is not adequately learned, he should keep his silence in the assembly of wise men. He believes that even if a man is wise, he will not be recognized if he does not have proper education. According to him, the self-esteem of an uneducated man will fade away when he begins to address an assembly of educated men.

To speak in an assembly of the learned without the fullness of knowledge

 is like playing chess on a board without the squares being marked.              (kural – 401)           

The desire of the uneducated to speak in an assembly is like a

woman without breasts desiring to enjoy her womanhood.                              (kural – 402)

The uneducated men are excellent if they know how to keep their

silence before the learned.                                                                                   (kural – 403)

Although the wisdom of an uneducated man happens to be very good, the

learned will not accept it.                                                                                      (kural – 404)

The self-esteem of an uneducated man will fade away when he begins to

 interact with the learned.                                                                                      (kural – 405)

 

From the above kurals, it is clear that Valluvar expects education and knowledge of the subject matter as sine qua non for anyone wanting to speak in front of an audience.

Overcome the fear of public speaking: According to Dale Carnegie, eighty to ninety percent of college students have a fear of public speaking. He says that the percentage of adults who are afraid of public speaking is probably higher than that of college students who fear public speaking. Valluvar also agrees that it is a rare individual who is not afraid of public speaking.

Many indeed may face death on the battlefield, but only a few can face an

audience without fear.                                                                                   (kural – 723)

 

So, what exactly is the solution to overcome this fear of public speaking? First, mastery of the subject is extremely helpful in developing confidence which is necessary to overcome fear. Another recommendation for overcoming the fear is practice. Dale Carnegie and many other modern authors agree that persistent practice will be very helpful in overcoming stage fear. Valluvar does not precisely say that practice is essential to overcome fear. But his general advice in another context is applicable here as well. Valluvar believes that persistent perseverance, tireless effort, and not succumbing to setbacks are essential to succeed in any endeavor.

One should not feel disheartened when a job seems impossible; persistent

efforts will result in success.                                                                           (kural – 611)

 

In this context, it is worth noting the story of Demosthenes, one of the greatest orators of ancient Greece. Demosthenes (384 BC322 BC) was a contemporary of Plato and Aristotle. He was the son of a wealthy sword maker. His father died, leaving him with a huge inheritance. But his unscrupulous guardians usurped most of his inheritance. Demosthenes decided to sue his guardians. In those days, there were no lawyers. He had to plead his own case in court. But, according to the Greek historian and biographer Plutarch, Demosthenes was inarticulate in his expression, and he had persistent stammering in his pronunciation. He overcame his handicaps by speaking with pebbles in his mouth and reciting verses when running. He also practiced speaking before a large mirror. Eventually, he became one of the greatest orators of all time and a famous speechwriter in Greece. Demosthenes’ story is an example to show that persistent effort will lead to success. It does not really matter whether we call it training or simply dogged perseverance, as Valluvar refers to it. 

Understanding the audience: The speaker in an assembly is like a salesman trying to promote a product to his customers. In order for the salesman to be effective, he should be aware of the product's features, the mood of his audience, the level of interest of the audience in the product, and the audience's ability to understand the product's features. So, the salesman will judge the audience and adjust his presentation to suit the audience's interest and ability to understand the product's features. A public speaker is in a similar situation. He should assess the caliber, requirements, and mood of his audience and make his presentation so that it appeals to his audience.

First and foremost, he should understand the audience. His speech should have the right content. Also, in his speech, he should use the right words, the right delivery style, and the proper pronunciation in the right tone with appropriate modulation in his voice. In the following kurals, Valluvar conveys the importance of understanding the audience and his suggestions for proper diction for the delivery of the presentation.

Men with eloquent speech, and precision in words, will choose their

words and their presentation style based on the audience and their disposition.      (kural – 711)

Competent and eloquent speakers will suit their contents and the diction of their

presentation in accordance with the mood of the audience.                                      (kural – 712)

 

Valluvar encourages the speaker to demonstrate his superior knowledge in the assembly of learned men and suggests that the speaker should assume a low profile, like an ignorant man in the company of those who are not very knowledgeable. He suggests that the speaker should exhibit modesty in his behavior and should not attempt to outshine when he is in the company of elders who possess superior knowledge. He assures that the knowledge and wisdom of the speaker will be appreciated by men of learning and critical judgment. He says that when a learned man addresses an assembly of other learned men, they will eagerly absorb his speech, like growing plants absorbing the water. He also warns that a speaker capable of delivering impressive lectures to a learned audience should never consider giving such presentations to an audience who is incapable of understanding him. In fact, he says that indulging in highly intellectual discussions with those who do not have the capacity to understand or appreciate what is said is like pouring life-saving nectar into a gutter. These valuable and practical guidelines from Valluvar to an aspiring speaker can be seen in the following kurals:

Speak intelligently in the assembly of the wise; assume the color of white

lime mortar before the ignorant.                                                                               (kural – 714)

In the assembly of elderly wise people, it would be an outstanding virtue

to be modest, exercise restraint, and not seek to outshine them.                            (kural – 715)

A learned person’s erudition will shine in the assembly of learned men

with critical judgment.                                                                                                (kural – 717)

Speaking to those who have the ability to understand is like watering a

bed of growing plants.                                                                                                (kural – 718)

Those who are capable of speaking impressively to the learned audience

should not make the mistake of addressing the audience who are incapable

of understanding him.                                                                                              (kural – 719)   

            Indulging in learned discourses before an audience who are not your

            intellectual equals is like pouring life-saving nectar into the gutter.                         (kural – 720)

 

In kural 714, the expression ”assume the color of white lime mortar” is an idiomatic expression for becoming one with the surroundings. In this case, if the speaker is among those who are not very learned, he should talk at their level so that they can understand.

Choice of words and delivery of the speech: Valluvar emphasizes that the speaker should carefully prepare his speech so that no one can refute his statements. This implies that the speaker should thoroughly prepare his speech so that it is factually correct and logically consistent and that others cannot dispute his statements. This is very important when the speaker is in a debate or in a courtroom situation where there is a possibility of someone challenging his remarks. The relevant kural is as follows:

Deliver your speech after assuring yourself that no counterargument can defeat

your statements.                                                                                                         (kural – 645)

 

Valluvar states that one should speak in such a manner that those present should be completely attracted and spellbound, and those who were absent should feel that they should have listened to the speech.

A speech should captivate the audience, and even those who were absent

should long to hear it.                                                                                                 (kural – 643)

 

This may appear to be a tall order for a speaker. However, there have been several speakers whose speeches have even outlived them. The Gettysburg address of President Abraham Lincoln and the “I have a dream speech” of Rev. Martin Luther King are two well-known examples of such speeches. One example of such a captivating speaker is Mr. C. N. Annadurai (1909 – 1969). Mr. Annadurai, affectionately referred to as Anna by his followers, was a politician during the second half of the twentieth century in Tamil Nadu, where Valluvar lived 2000 years ago. Anna was a successful politician. He rose from virtual obscurity to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. His meteoric rise and his party’s victory in the elections were primarily due to the phenomenal public speaking prowess of Anna and his close associates.

During the late 1950s, I was a student at Loyola College in Chennai (the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu), pursuing my undergraduate studies. Loyola college is one of the premier educational institutions in India, run by Jesuit priests. Loyola College was not only known for its academic excellence, but it was also known for its strict enforcement of discipline among the students. When I was at Loyola College, I stayed in the dormitory. There was a strict rule that the students in the dormitory were supposed to be in their rooms from 8 PM each night till 6 AM the following day. Anyone who violated the rule was subject to heavy penalties, including eviction from the dormitory.

Anna used to speak often at Marina beach in Chennai. The beach could accommodate thousands of people. Anna was an outstanding speaker. He had a great sense of humor. He was always very convincing in his speech. Even his political adversaries would love to listen to his speeches. He had the remarkable ability to make thousands of his listeners laugh, think, and even be motivated to act on his behalf. His diction was excellent. Alliteration was his specialty. Usually, his speeches were in the early part of the night. On several occasions, some of my friends and I violated the dormitory rules and went to Marina beach to listen to Anna’s speech and sneaked back into our rooms without the knowledge of the dormitory warden. The following day, my friends who did not attend Anna’s meeting would gather around me and ask me to imitate his speech. Of course, Anna was inimitable. I used to try my best.

 If I had been caught for my transgression, I would have been in severe trouble with my college and my father. But my interest in Anna’s speech got the better of me. The point of this anecdote is to illustrate that there are and there have been speakers who met Valluvar’s dictum in kural 643.

Brevity in speech: Valluvar remarks that only those who do not know how to be brief tend to make long speeches. It is said that Sir Winston Churchill mentioned that it took him more time to prepare a short speech than the time it took to prepare a long speech. For a speech to be effective and sustain the audience's interest, it should be brief and to the point. Some of the great speeches are indeed very short. For example, President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was less than three minutes. Sir Winston Churchill’s “Never give in“ speech was less than five minutes. President Delano Roosevelt’s “Infamy Speech “was less than three minutes. Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech was about fifteen minutes. These speeches are available on the Internet, and the interested reader can listen and admire the brevity and profundity of these speeches. These speeches were made at critical junctures in human history. So, Valluvar’s emphasis on brevity in public speaking is appropriate. The relevant kural is as follows:

Those who do not know how to convey their ideas in a few faultless words

 will desire to utter many words.                                                                    (kural – 649)

 

 

Interpersonal Communication

The other aspect of human communication involves interpersonal communication. Only a few people have the need and opportunity to engage in public speaking. Whereas everyone is involved in interpersonal communication on a daily basis. Valluvar has thought about various aspects of interpersonal communication and offers his ideas on the subject.

 

Self-restraint: Among the several virtues advocated by Valluvar, self-restraint is one of them. He believes that one should control one’s tongue and exercise self-restraint when speaking to others. He says that a single hurtful word would destroy all the positive outcomes from all the good and kind words (kural – 128). The injury caused by a burn heals, but not the scar caused by an offending word (kural – 129). Therefore, one should take steps to control one’s tongue, even if one cannot control other things (kural – 127).

Understanding one’s mind:  In public speaking, the speaker is advised to observe the level of understanding and the audience's mood so that he can adjust his remarks. So also, during interpersonal communications, it is advantageous to be able to understand what is in the other person’s mind. Valluvar observes that an individual's face clearly depicts what is in his mind, like a mirror reflecting the objects in front of it. According to him, through our eyes, it is possible to read the facial expressions of others and thereby understand what is in their mind. In fact, he claims that it is the primary purpose of the eyes to observe others’ faces and decode what is in their minds. Perhaps everyone may not be so observant. That is why Valluvar says that it is a rare ability to read others’ minds by observing their faces and a person with such a gifted ability is indeed divine.

            As the mirror reflects what is in front of it, the face portrays what is in the mind. (kural – 706)

            Is there anything more intelligent than the face to reveal one’s joy or ire?             (kural – 707)

            What use are the eyes if they cannot sense others’ minds?                                      (kural – 705)

            He who can read others’ minds beyond doubt is comparable to God.                     (kural – 702)

 

Speaking kind and pleasing words: In addition to exercising self-restraint, Valluvar suggests that one should use kind and pleasing words. He says that humility and pleasant speech are the real ornaments for a man and other ornaments are not real ornaments (kural – 95). When a man knows that kind words bring joy and happiness, he wonders why he should resort to harsh words (kural – 99). He also asserts that using harsh words instead of kind and pleasant ones is like preferring raw fruits when ripe ones are available (kural – 100). From these statements, it is clear that Valluvar advocates the use of kind and pleasant words in conversation with others.

Listening during interpersonal communication: It is important that during a conversation, one should listen to the other person with whom one is trying to communicate instead of focusing attention only on expressing oneself. In other words, the communication should be bilateral instead of being one-sided.

When flawless people speak, they speak in such a manner that the listener

is eager to listen, and they also grasp useful ideas from the listener.                       (kural – 646)

 

The above kural implies that the ideal way to communicate should be based on useful exchange of ideas among the people involved in the conversation.

Avoiding idle talk and slander: When people are engaged in conversations, it is not unusual for them to talk about themselves or about other people. Valluvar advises against indulging in useless conversations and slanderous talks about others. He has reserved a chapter for “Idle Talk” and another for “Slander,” where he condemns them in very strong terms. The following two kurals are samples from those chapters, and they clearly show his disapproval of idle talk and slander.

            Call him not a man who utters vain words. He is indeed a chaff among men.          (kural – 196)

It is better to die than to live by backbiting, as death may confer the fruit

of righteousness.                                                                                                         (kural – 183)

 

Being truthful and credible: Being truthful is a virtue. Valluvar has a rather liberal definition of truth. According to him, truth is speaking that which is free from even the slightest taint of evil (kural - 291). This definition of truth excludes all evil that can result from one’s speech. For example, his definition of truth excludes uttering statements that could cause any harm or hurt to anyone. A person who says things that mentally hurt another person or cause physical harm cannot be effective in interpersonal communication. Such a person loses his credibility, and therefore others will shun him. Another type of people who cannot be effective in interpersonal communication are those whose words do not match their deeds. Valluvar says that association with those whose words and deeds do not match is bitter, even in the dream (kural - 819). So, credibility and truthfulness are necessary to be effective in interpersonal communications.

Conclusion

It is truly amazing that 2000 years ago, Valluvar could think of analyzing many aspects of communication, including public speaking and interpersonal communication, and his observations are valid even today. His ideas regarding the importance of mastery of the subject matter, being unafraid before an audience, understanding the audience, using the right words, and captivating the audience are indeed valid and valuable advice to a public speaker, even in the modern days. Similarly, using kind and pleasant words, establishing credibility by being truthful, and having the ability to read others’ minds through their facial expressions are truly useful advice in the context of interpersonal communication.  


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Drew, W.H., Lazarus, John, Rev. Thirukkural – English Translation. Asian Educational services,
Madras (Chennai): 1996.
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Rammohan, Alagappa, (Ed.). Thirukkural, The handbook of Tamil Culture and Heritage.
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அண்ணாமலைநகர்: 1989.
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வளாகம், மதுரை: 1999.
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சென்னை, 600 017




Appendix

இனியவை கூறல்
பணிவுடையான் இன்சொலன் ஆதல், ஒருவற்கு
அணி; அல்ல மற்றுப் பிற.                              (குறள் – 95)

இன்சொல் இனிதுஈன்றல் காண்பான் எவன்கொலோ
வன்சொல் வழங்கு வது.                                (குறள்99)

இனிய உளவாக இன்னாத கூறல்
கனிஇருப்பக் காய்கவர்ந் தற்று.                          (குறள்100)

அடக்கமுடைமை
யாகாவா ராயினும் நாகாக்க; காவாக்கால்
சோகாப்பர் சொல்லிழுக்குப் பட்டு.                        (குறள்127)

ஒன்றானுந் தீச்சொல் பொருட்பயன் உண்டாயின்
நன்றாகா தாகி விடும்.                                  (குறள்128)

தீயினாற் சுட்டபுண் உள்ளாறும்; ஆறாதே
நாவினாற் சுட்ட வடு.                                   (குறள்129)

புறங்கூறாமை
புறங்கூறிப் பொய்த்துயிர் வாழ்தலின் சாதல்
அறங்கூறும் ஆக்கந் தரும்.                              (குறள்183)

பயனில சொல்லாமை
பயனில்சொல் பாராட்டு வானை மகன்எனல்
மக்கட் பதடி னல்.                                     (குறள்196)

வாய்மை
வாய்மை எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
தீமை இலாத சொலல்.                                 (குறள் – 291)

கல்லாமை
அரங்கின்றி வட்டாடி யற்றே நிரம்பிய
நூலின்றிக் கோட்டி கொளல்.                            (குறள்401)

கல்லாதான் சொற்கா முறுதல் முலையிரண்டும்
இல்லாதாள் பெண்காமுற் றற்று.                         (குறள்402)
     
கல்லா தவரும் நனிநல்லர் கற்றார்முன்
சொல்லா திருக்கப் பெறின்.                             (குறள்403)

கல்லாதான் ஒட்பம் கழியநன் றாயினும்
கொள்ளார் அறிவுடை யார்.                              (குறள்404)

கல்லா ஒருவன் தகைமை தலைப்பெய்து
சொல்லாடச் சோர்வு படும்.                             (குறள்405)

ஆள்வினையுடைமை
அருமை உடைத்தென்று அசாவாமை வேண்டும்
பெருமை முயற்சி தரும்.                               (குறள்611)

சொல்வன்மை
நாநலம் என்னும் நலனுடைமை அந்நலம்
யாநலத்து உள்ளதூஉம் அன்று.                          (குறள்641)

ஆக்கமுங் கேடும் அதனால் வருதலால்
காத்தோம்பல் சொல்லின்கட் சோர்வு.                     (குறள்642)

கேட்டார்ப் பிணிக்கும் தகையவாய்க் கேளாரும்
வேட்ப மொழிவதாம் சொல்.                            (குறள்643)
     
சொல்லுக சொல்லைப் பிறிதோர்சொல் அச்சொல்லை
வெல்லுஞ்சொல் இன்மை அறிந்து.                       (குறள்645)

வேட்பத்தாஞ் சொல்லிப் பிறர்சொல் பயன்கோடல்
மாட்சியின் மாசற்றார் கோள்.                           (குறள்646)
           
பலசொல்லக் காமுறுவர் மன்றமா சற்ற
சிலசொல்லல் தேற்றா தவர்.                            (குறள்649)

குறிப்பறிதல்
ஐயப் படாஅது அகத்தது உணர்வானைத்
தெய்வத்தோடு ப்பக் கொளல்.                          (குறள்702)
     
குறிப்பிற் குறிப்புணரா வாயின் உறுப்பினுள்
என்ன பயத்தவோ கண்.                                 (குறள்705)

அடுத்தது காட்டும் பளிங்குபோல் நெஞ்சம்
கடுத்தது காட்டும் முகம்.                                (குறள்706)

முகத்தின் முதுக்குறைந்தது உண்டோ உவப்பினும்
காயினும் தான்முந் துறும்.                              (குறள்707)

அவையறிதல்
அவையறிந்து ஆராய்ந்து சொல்லுக சொல்லின்
தொகையறிந்த தூய்மை யவர்.                          (குறள்711)

இடைதெரிந்து நன்குணர்ந்து சொல்லுக சொல்லின்
நடைதெரிந்த நன்மை யவர்.                             (குறள்712)

ஒளியார்முன் ஒள்ளியர் தல் வெளியார்முன்
வான்சுதை வண்ணம் கொளல்.                          (குறள்714)

நன்றென்ற வற்றுள்ளும் நன்றே முதுவருள்
முந்து கிளவாச் செறிவு.                                (குறள்715)

கற்றறிந்தார் கல்வி விளங்கும் கசடறச்
சொல்தெரிதல் வல்லார் அகத்து.                         (குறள்717)

உணர்வ துடையார்முன் சொல்லல் வளர்வதன்
பாத்தியுள் நீர்சொரிந் தற்று.                             (குறள்718)

புல்லவையுள் பொச்சாந்தும் சொல்லற்க நல்லவையுள்
நன்கு செலச்சொல்லு வார்.                              (குறள்719)

அங்கணத்துள் உக்க அமிழ்தற்றால் தங்கணததார்
அல்லார்முன் கோட்டி கொளல்.                          (குறள்720)

அவையஞ்சாமை
பகையகத்துச் சாவார் எளியர் அரியர்
அவையகத்து அஞ்சா தவர்.                             (குறள்723)

தீநட்பு
கனவினும் இன்னாது மன்னோ வினைவேறு
சொல்வேறு பட்டார் தொடர்பு.                           (குறள்819)




[1] In Tamil, the word “kural” means a two - line verse (couplet). Valluvar’s book consists of 1330 kurals. As in the case of his name, the term “Thiru” is an honorific prefix to the book of kurals and hence his book is called Thirukkural. In this article, we will use the term “the Kural” to refer to the book and the word “kural” (with a lower case k) to refer to the individual couplet.
All the kurals referred in this article are listed in the Appendix.