Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
A new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and love. Tiruvalluvar's The Kural, usually dated between the 3rd and 5th centuries, is a Tamil masterpiece of poetry and practical philosophy. On par with the Tao Te Ching, The Kural has been underserved by translators, who tend to sacrifice its poetry for what they see as its ideas. Drawing on the poetic lineage represented by W. S. Merwin, Wendell Berry, William Carlos Williams, and Denise Levertov, as well as on twenty years of dedicated study, this new translation by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma seeks instead to do justice to the poetic genius of the original and to the subtlety of its understanding of life.
Each chapter consists of ten short verses, or kurals, on a single theme, arranged into sections that cover three of the four aims prescribed by Hindu tradition--ethics at home, wealth in the world, and love in all its complexities. If a person pursues these first three wholeheartedly, it is said, the fourth aim, liberation from the cycle of birth and death, comes of its own accord.
Accompanying the translation is a foreword by the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, Andrew Harvey, and a "commentary of notes" in which Pruiksma elucidates key words and provides insights from important commentaries. Beautifully packaged, Pruiksma's translation of The Kural is a marvel feat both for readers who are deeply familiar with the original, and for those approaching it for the first time with open eyes.
Synopsis
A new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and love. Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural is a Tamil masterpiece of poetry and practical philosophy. Each chapter consists of 10 short verses, or kurals, on a single theme, all arranged into 3 main sections: ethics at home, wealth in the world, and love in its many complexities. Comprising 1,330 kurals in total, Tiruvalluvar's text illuminates a vision of goodness that is as worldly as it is spiritual, as rooted as it is uplifting, and as broad as it is detailed and nuanced.
On par with other world classics such as the Tao Te Ching, The Kural has long been underserved by translators, who tend to sacrifice its poetry for what they see as its ideas. This new translation by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma draws on two decades of study under the Tamil scholar Dr. K. V. Ramakoti, as well as on the poetic tradition of W. S. Merwin, Wendell Berry, William Carlos Williams, and Denise Levertov, to do justice to the genius of the original and the subtlety of its understanding of life.
Accompanying the translation is a foreword by the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, Andrew Harvey, an introduction by the translator and scholar Archana Venkatesan, and a "commentary of notes" in which Pruiksma elucidates key words and shares insights from important commentaries. Rich with indelible wisdom and incandescent wordplay, Pruiksma's translation transforms the barrier of language into a bridge, bringing the fullness of Tiruvalluvar's poetic intensity to a new generation.
Synopsis
A new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece, uniquely rendering the unforgettable humanity, vitality, and wisdom of its verse in incandescent English. Drawing on the poetic tradition of W. S. Merwin, Wendell Berry, and William Carlos Williams, and nurtured by 2 decades of study under Tamil scholar Dr. K. V. Ramakoti, this new translation of the Kural by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma brings English readers closer than ever to the brilliant inner and outer music of Tiruvalluvar's work and ideas.
Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural is a masterwork of poetry and practical philosophy. On par with other world classics such as the Tao Te Ching, the Kural is a compendium of 1,330 short philosophical verses, or kurals, that together cover a wide range of personal and cosmic experience, such as--
POLITICS
Harsh rule that brings idiots together--nothing
Burdens the earth more
HOSPITALITY
The life that cherishes strangers each day
Never falls upon ruin
FRIENDSHIP
Friendship is not a face smiling--friendship
Is a heart that smiles
GREED
Those who won't give and enjoy--even with billions
They have nothing
Accompanying the translation is a foreword by the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, Andrew Harvey; an introduction by the translator and scholar Archana Venkatesan; and a "Commentary of Notes," in which Pruiksma elucidates key words and shares insights from important Tamil commentaries.
Rich with indelible wordplay, learning, and heart, Pruiksma's translation transforms the barrier of language into a bridge, bringing the fullness of Tiruvalluvar's poetic intensity to a new generation.
Synopsis
A new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and love, bringing Tiruvalluvar's poetry and practical philosophy to new generations seeking guidance and care in a stressed out world. Drawing on the poetic tradition of W. S. Merwin, Wendell Berry, and William Carlos Williams, and nurtured by 2 decades of study under Tamil scholar Dr. K. V. Ramakoti, this new translation of the Kural by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma brings English readers closer than ever to the brilliant inner and outer music of Tiruvalluvar's work and ideas.
Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural is a masterwork of poetry and practical philosophy. On par with other world classics such as the Tao Te Ching, the Kural is a compendium of 1,330 short philosophical verses, or kurals, that together cover a wide range of personal and cosmic experience, such as--
POLITICS
Harsh rule that brings idiots together--nothing
Burdens the earth more
HOSPITALITY
The life that cherishes strangers each day
Never falls upon ruin
FRIENDSHIP
Friendship is not a face smiling--friendship
Is a heart that smiles
GREED
Those who won't give and enjoy--even with billions
They have nothing
Accompanying the translation is a foreword by the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, Andrew Harvey; an introduction by the translator and scholar Archana Venkatesan; and a "Commentary of Notes," in which Pruiksma elucidates key words and shares insights from important Tamil commentaries.
Rich with indelible wordplay, learning, and heart, Pruiksma's translation transforms the barrier of language into a bridge, bringing the fullness of Tiruvalluvar's poetic intensity to a new generation.
Synopsis
A new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and friendship, bringing Tiruvalluvar's poetry and practical philosophy to a new generation seeking practical wisdom and spiritual sustenance. Drawing on the poetic tradition of W. S. Merwin, Wendell Berry, and William Carlos Williams, and nurtured by 2 decades of study under Tamil scholar Dr. K. V. Ramakoti, this new translation of the Kural by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma brings English readers closer than ever to the brilliant inner and outer music of Tiruvalluvar's work and ideas.
Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural is a masterwork of poetry and practical philosophy. On par with other world classics such as the Tao Te Ching, the Kural is a compendium of 1,330 short philosophical verses, or kurals, that together cover a wide range of personal and cosmic experience, such as--
POLITICS
Harsh rule that brings idiots together--nothing
Burdens the earth more
HOSPITALITY
The life that cherishes strangers each day
Never falls upon ruin
FRIENDSHIP
Friendship is not a face smiling--friendship
Is a heart that smiles
GREED
Those who won't give and enjoy--even with billions
They have nothing
Accompanying the translation is a foreword by the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, Andrew Harvey; an introduction by the translator and scholar Archana Venkatesan; and a "Commentary of Notes," in which Pruiksma elucidates key words and shares insights from important Tamil commentaries.
Rich with indelible wordplay, learning, and heart, Pruiksma's translation transforms the barrier of language into a bridge, bringing the fullness of Tiruvalluvar's poetic intensity to a new generation.