Tirukkural, also known as the Kural, an ancient Indian treatise on the ethics and morality of the commoner, is one of the most widely translated non-religious works in the world. Authored by the ancient Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, the work has been translated into 57 languages, with a total of 350 individual translations, including 143 different renderings in the English language alone.

Beginning of translations

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Beschi, the earliest known translator of the Kural text
 
Tamil Wisdom, by Edward Jewitt Robinson, 1873[1]

The Kural text, considered to have been written in the 1st century BCE,[2] remained unknown to the outside world for close to one and a half millennia. The first translation of the Kural text appeared in Malayalam in 1595 CE under the title Tirukkural Bhasha by an unknown author. It was a prose rendering of the entire Kural, written closely to the spoken Malayalam of that time.[2] However, again, this unpublished manuscript remained obscure until it was first reported by the Annual Report of the Cochin Archeological Department for the year 1933–34.[3] It took another three centuries before the next Malayalam translation was made in 1863 by Perunazhi Krishna Vaidhyan.

The Kural text has enjoyed a universal appeal right from antiquity owing to its secular and non-denominational nature that it suited the sensibilities of all.[4] The universality is such that, despite its having been written in the pre-Christian era, almost every religious group in India and across the world, including Christianity, has claimed the work for itself.[5] Owing to its ethical content, the Kural remained one of the most admired ancient Indian works among the Christian missionaries of the 16th and 17th centuries,[6] who arrived in India during the colonial era and found the Kural text containing many more ideals in addition to those that are similar to their own Christian ideals. This marked the beginning of wider translations of the Kural text.[7]

In 1730, Constantius Joseph Beschi rendered the Kural text into Latin, introducing the work to the Europeans for the first time. However, only the first two books of the Kural text, namely, virtue and wealth, were translated by Beschi, who considered translating the book on love inappropriate for a Christian missionary. Around 1767, an unknown author made the first French translation, which went unnoticed.[7] The Danish Missionary August Friedrich Caemmerer translated it into German in 1803.[6][8] The first available French version, however, was the one made in 1848 by E. S. Ariel. Here again, only parts of the work was translated.[7] In 1856, Karl Graul translated the Kural into German, claiming that the Kural is closer to the Christian preaching and offers a model of Tamil worldview.[6] The German version was published both at London and Leipzig. In 1865, his Latin translation of the Kural text, along with commentaries in Simple Tamil, was posthumously published.[9]

The first English translation ever was attempted by N. E. Kindersley in 1794 when he translated select couplets of the Kural. This was followed by another incomplete attempt by Francis Whyte Ellis in 1812, who translated only 120 couplets—69 in verse and 51 in prose.[10][11][12][13] William Henry Drew translated the first two parts in prose in 1840 and 1852, respectively. Along with Drew's English prose translation, it contained the original Tamil text, the Tamil commentary by Parimelalhagar and Ramanuja Kavirayar's amplification of the commentary. Drew, however, translated only 630 couplets. The remaining portions were translated by John Lazarus, a native missionary, thus providing the first complete English translation. In 1886, George Uglow Pope published the first complete English translation in verse by a single author, which brought the Kural text to a wide audience of the western world.[14]

By the turn of the twenty-first century, the Kural had already been translated to more than 37 world languages,[15] with at least 24 complete translations in English language alone, by both native and non-native scholars. By 2014, the Kural had been translated to more than 42 languages, with 57 versions available in English. Along with the Bible and the Quran, the Kural remains one of the most translated works in the world.[16] In October 2021, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil announced its translating the Kural text into 102 world languages.[17]

Criticisms on translations

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The couplets of the Kural are inherently complex by virtue of their dense meaning within their terse structure. Thus, no translation can perfectly reflect the true nature of any given couplet of the Kural unless read and understood in its original Tamil form.[18] Added to this inherent difficulty is the attempt by some scholars to either read their own ideas into the Kural couplets or deliberately misinterpret the message to make it conform to their preconceived notions, a problem of Hermeneutics. The Latin translation by Father Beshi, for instance, contains several such mistranslations noticed by modern scholars. According to V. Ramasamy, "Beschi is purposely distorting the message of the original when he renders பிறவாழி as 'the sea of miserable life' and the phrase பிறவிப்பெருங்கடல் as 'sea of this birth' which has been translated by others as 'the sea of many births'. Beschi means thus 'those who swim the vast sea of miseries'. The concept of rebirth or many births for the same soul is contrary to Christian principle and belief".[7] In August 2022, the governor of Tamil Nadu, R. N. Ravi, criticized Anglican Christian missionary G. U. Pope for "translating with the colonial objective to 'trivialise' the spiritual wisdom of India," resulting in a "de-spiritualised version" of the Kural text.[19]

List of translations

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Below is a list of translations of the Kural:[20][21][22]

S.No. Language Translator(s) Title of the Translation Place of Publication Year Coverage and Form Notes Translation for comparison:
Kural (verse) 251 (Chapter 26:1)
1 Arabic Muhammad Yousuf Kokan Al-Abiayaatul Muqaddisa (Sacred Verses) (Hanifa House Printers and Publishers) 1976–1980 Complete Translated from an English translation.[23] كيف يكون احد رؤوفا ورحيما إن يأكل الحيوانات
لا زدياد شحمه ودسمه فى جثـتـه وجسمه
Basheer Ahmed Jamali Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2014 Complete [24]
Amar Hasan Thirukkural Beirut, Lebanon (Al Farabi Publications) 2015 Complete [25][26]
Mahmood Fat-hi Sa’d Khalifa Egypt
A. Jahir Hussain Thirukkural Chennai (International Institute of Tamil Studies) 2020 Complete–Verse Translated from Tamil original.[27][28][29]
K. M. A. Ahamed Zubair Al- Abyath Al- Baariza: Thirukkural London (Shams Publishing Inc.) 2024 Complete ISBN: 978-620-3-91353-8
2 Assamese Malini Goswami Thirukural Guwahati (Assam Publication Board) 2012 Complete
B. Vijayakumar Thirukkural in Assamese Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2023 Complete Released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023[22]: 30 
3 Awadhi Ram Lakshan Prajapati Pratagarthit Thirukkural in Awadhi Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2023 Complete Released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023[22]: 35 
4 Badaga C. P. Krishniah Thirukkural in Badaga Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2022 Complete
5 Bengali Nalini Mohan Sanyal Thirukkural Calcutta 1939 Prose
E. C. Sastri Thirukkural Calcutta 1974 Prose
N. Ramanuja Das Khardah Thirukkural 1993 Prose
S. Krishnamoorthy Tirukkural (Ancient Tamil Poetry) Calcutta (Sahityika) 2001 Complete—Verse Reprinted in 2014 by Sahitya Akademi; 148 pages. ISBN 978-81-260-4719-2[30]
6 Bhojpuri Harish Chandra Mishra Thirukkural in Bhojpuri Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2023 Complete ISBN: 978-81-260-4719-2; Released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023[22]: 38 
7 Bodo Rupali Swarglary Tirukkural Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil)[24]: 37–38  2023 Complete
8 Burmese U. Myo Thant Thirukkural (Nitimala of Tamil men: The Bible of Syracuse) Rangoon (Kanbe Nattukottai Chettiyar Education Trust)[24] 1964 Complete—Prose 193 pages
Parimala Devi Thinagara Suwami Thirukkural Burmese Translation Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil)[24]: 39–40  2023 Complete 430 pages; ISBN: 978-81-19249-27-5
9 Chinese Ch'eng Xi Gula Zhenyan (古臘箴言) Hong Kong (Hong Kong University Press: Xianggang Daxue Chubanshe) 1967 166 pages 如何真正实践慈悲谁吃动物肉养肥自己的血肉?
Yu Hsi Thirukkural Taipei, Taiwan (Poem Culture Corp.) 2010 Complete ISBN: 978-986-8677-5-0; 267 pages; Book released by former President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam[31] Reprinted in India in 2014 by the Department of Tamil Development and Culture 以他者的脂肪養胖自己的人,
怎可能是善良的呢?
10 Creole Rama Valayden Port Louis, Mauritius (Calson Printing Ltd) 2007 Translated only Books I and II; ISBN 978-99903-66-21-1
K. Karupudayyan and Ramen 2018 Partial Translated only Book III[24]: 42–43  Not translated
Uma Allaghery Thirukkural (Kreol [Morisien] Translation) Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil)[24]: 42–43  2023 Complete
11 Czech Kamil V. Zvelebil Thirukural (Selections) Prague 1952–1954 Selections Translated select couplets that appeared in Novy Orient, a Czech journal, during 1952–54.[32]
12 Danish Marianne Steen Isak Thirukural (Tamil Danish Socio-Literary Federation) 2021 Complete
Anjalay Ratnam Keertana,
Amirthalingam,
Roshana-Jasmin Simon, and
Sumeka Srikaran
Tirukkural (Danish) Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil)[24]: 45–46  2023 Complete ISBN: 978-93-81744-71-0
13 Dutch D. Kat Thirukural (Selections) Netherlands 1964 Selections
14 English Nathaniel Edward Kindersley Specimens of Hindoo Literature London (W. Bulmer and Co.) 1794 Selections—Verse Made the first ever translation of the Kural text into English in a chapter titled 'Extracts from the Teroo-Vaulaver Kuddul, or, The Ocean of Wisdom' in his book Specimens of Hindoo Literature[33] Not translated.
Francis Whyte Ellis Thirukural on Virtue (in verse) with Commentary Madras 1812 (reprint 1955) Selections—Mixed Incomplete translation—only 120 couplets translated, 69 in verse and 51 in prose Not translated
William Henry Drew The Cural of Thiruvalluvar with Commentary of Parimelazhakar Madurai (American Mission Press) 1840 Partial—Prose Translated only the first 630 couplets How can he be possessed of kindness, who, to increase his own flesh, eats the flesh of other (creatures)?
Charles E. Gover Odes from the Kural (Folksongs of South India) Madras (Higginbothams) 1872 Selections–Verse Reprinted in 1981 by Gian Publications, Delhi
Edward Jewitt Robinson Tamil Wisdom London (Paternoster Row) 1873 Partial—Verse Translated only Books I and II (1080 couplets) What graciousness by those is shown
Who feed with others' flesh their own?
William Henry Drew, and John Lazarus Thirukural (in verses) Madras 1885 Partial—Prose Lazarus revised Drew's work and translated the remaining portion (couplets 631 to 1330) in prose as done by Drew, thus making the incomplete work of Drew a complete one. How can he be possessed of kindness, who, to increase his own flesh, eats the flesh of other (creatures)?
George Uglow Pope A Collection of the English Translation of Thirukural Madras 1886 Complete—Verse First complete translation in English by a single author How can the wont of 'kindly grace' to him be known,
Who other creatures' flesh consumes to feed his own?
T. Thirunavukarasu Kural—A Selection of 366 Verses (A Gem for Each Day) Madras (SPCK Press) 1915 Selections—Prose
V. V. S. Aiyar Kural: Maxims of Thiruvalluvar Madras (Amudha Nilayam)[34] 1916 Complete–Prose How can he feel pity, who eateth other flesh to fatten his own?
T. P. Meenakshisundaram 1919 Published the 1904 work of K. Vadivelu Chettiar with English renderings.[35] Republished in 1972–1980 in Madurai as Kural in English with Tamil Text and Parimelazhakar Commentary (3 parts). Recent edition published in 2015 in 2 volumes.
S. Sabaratna Mudaliyar Kural Madras 1920
G. Vanmikanathan The Tirukkural: A unique guide to moral, material and spiritual prosperity Madras (Rathina Nayakkar & Sons)
Tiruchirappalli (The Tirukural Prachar Sangh)
1924 Complete—
A. Madhaviah Kural in English with Commentary in Tamil Madras (Panchamirtham Press) 1925 Selections—Verse
T. V. Parameswaran Aiyar 108 Gems from the Sacred Kural Kottayam (Jagadamba Vidhya Vihar) 1928 Selections
Unknown Jeevakarunya Thirukkural Selections Karaikkudi (Kumaran Co. Publishers) 1928 Selections
S. Somasundara Bharathiyar Tiruvalluvar: English translation in Tamil lectures Madurai (Madurai Tamil Sangam) 1929 Published again in 1966 by Navalar Somasundara Bharatiyar Trust, Chennai
H. A. Popley The Sacred Kural (Selections in verses) Calcutta (The Heritage of India Press) 1931 Selections—Verse Another edition published by YMCA Publishing House How can kindliness rule that man,
Who eateth other flesh to increase his own?
A. Ranganatha Muthaliar Thirukural Moolamum Uraiyum with English Translation Madras (Suvarna Vilas) 1933 365 pages
C. Rajagopalachari Kural, the Great Book of Thiruvalluvar Madras 1935 Partial—Prose Selections of 355 couplets; second edition published in 1965 by Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan
M. S. Purnalingam Pillai The Kural in English Tirunelveli (Sri Kanthimathi Vilasam Press) 1942 Complete–Prose How can a man grace who eats the meat of other animal to fatten himself?
S. M. Michael The Sacred Aphorisms of Thiruvalluvar (in verse) Nagarcoil 1946 Complete—Verse Who eats flesh other his own to expand,
How can he grace command?
V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar Thirukural in English with Roman Translation Madras 1949 Complete—Prose He who fattens on the flesh of animals, can he ever understand the rule of love?
M. R. Rajagopala Aiyangar Tirukkural Kumbakonam (S. Viswanathan and Co.) 1950 Complete–Prose
P. Raja Thirukural (in verses) Kumbakonam 1950 —Verse
A. Chakravarti Thirukural in English with Commentary Madras (Diocesan Press, Vepery) 1953 Complete—Prose 648 pages How can a person cultivate the habit of universal benevolence if he for the purpose of fattening his own flesh (body) eats flesh of other animals?
I. D. Thangaswami Thirukural: Virtue and Wealth (Selections in Verse) Madras (K. Venkatesan, The Progressive Printers) 1954 Selections—Verse Translated only 366 verses from Books I and II.
Issac T. Thangaiya Thirukkural in English with Parimelazhakar Commentary Madras 1955
K. M. Balasubramaniam Thirukural of Thiruvalluvar Madras (Manali Lakshmana Mudaliar's Specific Endowments) 1962 Complete—Verse Reprinted in 2012 by Palaniappa Brothers, Chennai and Shivalayam, Chennai How can the one who eats a flesh to have his own flesh swell
Possess a melting heart in which compassion could e'er dwell?
T. Muthuswamy Thirukkural, the Gospel of Mankind Madurai (Vivekananda Press) 1965 Partial—Prose
V. Chinnarajan The Kural Gems Udumalpet (Gopalaratna Gupta) 1967 Selections–Verse
C. R. Soundararajan 1968 Complete–Prose
Emmons E. White The Wisdom of India New York City (The Peter Pauper Press) 1968 Selections–Verse Published as The Wisdom of the Tamil People in 1976
Yogi Suddanantha Bharathi Thirukural with English Couplets Madras (SISSWP Society) 1968 Complete—Verse What graciousness can one command
Who feeds his flesh by flesh gourmand?
G. Vanmikanathan The Thirukural—A Unique Guide to Moral, Material and Spiritual Prosperity Trichy 1969 Complete—Prose How will he exercise charity, who eats the flesh of another (creature) to fatten his own flesh?
Kasturi Srinivasan Thirukural: An Ancient Tamil Classic (in couplets) Bombay (Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan) 1969 Complete—Verse To feed his flesh, who flesh consumes
What kindly grace, such man presumes?
A. Gajapathy Nayagar The Rosary of Gems of Thirukkural Madras (The Tamilar Peravai) 1969 Selections
Yogi Suddanantha Bharathi Thirukural Couplets with Clear Prose Rendering Madras 1970 Complete—Prose
T. N. S. Ragavachari Teachings of Tiruvalluvar's Kural Madras (Health, June 1966 – October 1971) 1971 Complete–Prose Reprinted in 1982
S. R. V. Vasu Voice of Valluvar: A Modern Commentary of the Kural Madras (Thayakam) 1972 Selection Selection of about 200 couplets; 90 pages
E. V. Singan Tirukkural: The Sayings of Tiruvalluvar Singapore (EVS Enterprises) 1975 Complete–Prose Reprinted in 1982
S. N. Sriramadesikan Tirukkural in Sanskrit, with Tamil and English Translations Madras (Gangai Puthaka Nilayam)(Lalitha Publications) 1978 Complete–Prose Reprinted in 1991, 1994, and 2006 How can a person be held to be compassionate when he slays animals and eat their flesh, for fattening his own body?
S. Maharajan Tiruvalluvar New Delhi (Sahitya Akademi) 1979 Verse—Selections Translated select couplets from all the three books of the Kural text. Second edition was published in 1982. How can he be possessed of grace,
who, to swell his own flesh,
eats the flesh of others!
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniya Swami Thirukural/Weavers Wisdom New Delhi (Abhinav Publications)/(Himalayan Academy Publications) 1979 Partial—Verse Translated only Books I and II; published again in 2000 How can he practice true compassion
Who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?
K. C. Kamaliah Sacred Kural: The Kindly Light Trinelvely (South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society) 1981
S. M. Diaz Aphorisms of Valluvar: Commentary and Comparative Study Madras: International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilizations 1982 Complete—Verse It is inconsistent with the way of living compassion,
To fatten oneself on the flesh of a fellow-creature.
S. Jagathratchagan Thirukkural: English Rendering Madras (Apollo Publications) 1985 Complete 291 pages
K. Chokkalingam Thirukkural: Aratthuppaal Jaffna (Sri Subramaniya Puthaka Salai) 1985 Partial Translated only Book I
C. Rajasingham Thirukkural: The Daylight of the Psych Madras (International Institute of Tamil Studies) 1987 Partial Translated the first 9 chapters
P. S. Sundaram Tiruvalluvar: The Kural New Delhi (Penguin Books India Limited) 1987 Complete–Verse Reprinted in 1989, 1991, 1992, and 2000 by International Tamil Language Foundation, Illinois How can he be kindly
Who fattens himself on others' fat?
T. S. Ramalingam Pillai Thirukkural with English Translation Trinelvely (Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing) 1987
K. N. Subramanyan Tiruvalluvar and His Tirukkural (Bharatya Gnanpith) 1987 Selections
K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar Tirukkural: Light of the Righteous Life Calcutta (M. P. Birla Foundation) 1988 Complete–Verse
M. Thiraviyam Tirukkural Madras (Asian Educational Services) 1988 Selections Published again in 1992 as 108 Tirukkural Couplets in English by Vanathi Padippakam, Madras
K. Chellappan Kural—Portraits: Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi's Kuralovium, a Translation from Tamil by K. Chellappan Annamalai Nagar: Annamalai University 1989
Chidambaran Ilankumaranar Thirukkural English Translation Madurai 1990
A. Pandurangan Tirukkural—Arattuppal Thiruvannamalai (Tilakavathi Publications) 1990
M. Swaminathan Tirukkural—English Translation Mayiladuthurai (Ganapathi Printers) 1991
Norman Cutler A Gift of Tamil: Translations of Tamil Literature New Delhi (Manohar and American Institute of Indian Studies) 1992 Selections Edited by Paula Richman
T. R. Kallapiran Thirukkural (Words of Eternal Wisdom) Madras (Baba Pathippagam, Tondiarpet) 1995 Complete 266+40 pages
D. V. G. Ramarathinam Tirukkural: English Translations (Thiyaga Durgam) 1995 Complete–Prose
G. J. B. Christopher A Metrical Translation of Tirukkural (Part One: Righteousness) Tiruchirappalli (Primerose Home) 1997 Partial Translated only Book I; 80 pages
Swamiji Iraianban Ambrosia of Thirukkural New Delhi (Abhinav Publications) 1997 Complete–Prose A man cannot feel pity in his heart for others, when they eat other creatures' flesh in order to make their own bodies fat.
G. N. Das Readings from Thirukkural New Delhi (Abhinav Publications) 1997 Select–Verse Whoever eats other animal's flesh
To fatten himself on it
How can any hope to find in him,
Merciful quality, however slight?
J. Narayanasamy Tirukkural Coimbatore (Gemini Art Printers) 1998 Complete–Mixed More in prose than in verse. Reprinted in 1999. Hardly any mercy is left in the minds of those who build their bodies with the flesh of other beings.
K. Kaliaperumal Wonders of Tirukkural Thanjavur (Jayam Publications) 1999 Complete–Verse 364 pages
C. R. Acharya Maxims of Truth (Commentary on Thirukkural) Madras (Super Power Press) 1999 964 pages
K. C. Agamudai Nambi Thirukkural Madurai (Author) 1999 352 pages
C. R. Sundar Book Divine Tirukkural Chennai (Vignesh Pathippakam) 2001 Complete–Verse
Subramanian, V. K. Pearls of Wisdom: Tirukkural (Tamil: Tirukkural Cintanai Muttukkal) Chennai (M.T.S. Academy India) 2001 82 p.
Kandiah, A., Jayadevan, V. and Buckingham, L. A. Gleanings from Tirukkural for a Multicultural Society Strathfield South, New South Wales, Australia (Natanalaya Publication) 2002 Selections 47 pages. Bilingual edition; ISBN: 0975065335
V. Padmanabhan Thirukkural with English Explanation Chennai (Manimekalai Prasuram) 2003 Complete–Prose 268 pages How can you consider the person eating the flesh of other creatures to strengthen his own, as merciful?
Kannan, K. Thirukkural Expressed in English Madurai (Papa Publications) 2003 Complete–Prose
Manickavasagam, S. Thirukkural: Tamil text, its paraphrase, Roman rendering and English translation New Delhi (Richa Prakashan) 2003 Prose
Perampalam, V. The Sacred Kural of Thiruvalluvar; A path to purposeful living Chennai 2003 288 pages
O. R. Krishnaswami The Wisdom of Tirukkural—A Guide to Living Mumbai (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan) 2004 Partial–Prose Translated Books I and II only; 489 pages
Anantham Krishnamurthy and R. Shahjahan Thirukkural (Original text, Romanization with English and French translations) New Delhi (Richa Prakashan) 2004 676 pages; ISBN: 8187062738
Varadarajan, P. Thirukkural: The Voice From Within New Delhi (National Council of Educational Research and Training) 2004 Complete 136 pages
M. D. Jayabalan Cheyyar (Mavanna Publications) 2005 Partial–Verse Translated only 321 couplets
Govindarajulu, G. Quintessence of Thirukkural Chennai (ANK Prints) 2005
Krishnaswamy, K. and Vijaya Ramkumar Unpublished online translation Online 2005 Complete Previously available at acharya.iitm.ac.in
Morgan Yegambaram Thirukkural for Children Durban, South Africa 2005
Ponnaiah, S. M. A Tapestry of Tamil Poetry Kuala Lampur (University of Malaya Press) 2005 Selections Translated 133 couplets only
Deivanayaki Thirumalai Book of Virtue in Rhythmic Verses Chennai (Perfect Xerox) 2005 Partial Translated only Book I; translated 100 more couplets in 2014
David Pratap Singh Tirukkural Madurai (Master Pathippakam) 2006 Complete–Verse 396 pages
S. Ratnakumar Tirukkural: A Guide to Effective Living Singapore (Tamils Representative Council) 2006 Complete–Prose 267 pages
Ashraf, N. V. K. Tirukkural: Getting Close to the Original Online 2006 Selections–Prose English translations of various authors; translated about 200 couplets
Annamalai, M. Thirukkural: Tamil–English Chennai (Santha Publications) 2006 76 pages
Kalladan Tirukkural Readings and Reflections Chennai (Manivasagam Publications) 2007 273 pages
Srinivasan, V. Thirukkural (Sri Vijeyam Publishers) 2007
Jayabalan, M. D. Thirukkural in English Cheyyar 2008 Selections Translated a selections of 317 couplets from all the three books
Soundarrajan, C. R. Thirukkural Uraikkalanjiam (Thiruvarasu Puthaka Nilayam) 2008 960 pages
Chellaiah Yogarathinam Tirukkural in English Chennai (Manimekalai Prasuram) 2008
Ira. Ilangkannanaar Bilingual Tirukkural (KPK Memorial Political Souvenir) 2008 Partial Translated only 1049 couplets
V. Murugan Thirukkural in English Chennai (Arivu Pathippagam) 2009 Complete–Verse How will compassion hold him under its reign
Who feeds on others' flesh to fatten his own?
Moorthy Rajaram Thirukkural: Pearls of Inspiration New Delhi (Rupa Publication) 2009 Complete—Verse 272 pages; ISBN_HB: 9788129114587 How could one ever be compassionate
If one fattens on animal meat?
Moorthy Rajaram Thirukkural: Pearls of Inspiration New Delhi (Rupa Publication) 2009 Complete—Prose One who fattens himself feeding on the animal flesh can never be kind to others.
N. E. Ramalingam Thirukkural Commentary in Tamil and English Chennai (Thiruvalluvar Pathippagam) 2009 Complete—Prose [36] How can one be kind hearted when he eats the flesh of other beings to increase his own flesh?
Damo Bullen Unpublished N/A 2009
Pasupathy Dhanaraj Tirukkural: Tenets for Right Living Chennai (Mathushree Imprints) 2009 284 pages
Ramiah, B. Tirukkural: English Explanation Pudukkottai (Pudukkottai Thirukkural Kazhagam) 2009 Selections Translated only 330 couplets
Subramani, B. R. M. Thirukkural: Righteousness: Morals and Virtues (Dravidian University) 2010 Partial Translated only Books I and II; published in two volumes
R. Viswanathan Thirukkural: Universal Tamil Scripture: Alongwith [sic] the Commentary of Parimalazhagar in English Mumbai (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan) 2011 Complete—Prose ISBN 978-81-7276-448-7
A. Gopalakrishnan Tirukkural—Thiruvalluvar Karutthurai Chidambaram (Meiyappan Padhippagam) 2012 Complete—Prose Authored both Tamil commentary and English translation How can one possess kindness towards the living beings; when he himself eats the flesh of other living beings to increase his own flesh?
Singaravelu Sachithanantham Karya Etika Tamil Berjudul Thirukkuṛaḷ Malaysia (Uma Publications) 2013 Complete—Verse Trilingual version with Tamil original and Malay and English versions translated by the translator. How would one, who kills the body of another being, and eats the meat of that being to enlarge one's own body, become one, who nurtures Arul ('compassion')?
S. P. Guruparan Thirukkural: English Translation Chennai (Mayilavan Padhippagam) 2014 Complete—Verse (a) If one eats the flesh of another (creature) to fatten his body
How can he be a charitable person?
(b) To strengthen his body if another body is eaten by one
How can he be a compassionate one?!!
Gopalkrishna Gandhi Tiruvalluvar—The Tirukkural: A New English Version New Delhi (Aleph Classics) 2015 Complete—Verse How can one not see the ugliness of eating meat?
How can one made of flesh another's flesh eat?
R. Venkatachalam Thirukkural—Translation—Explanation: A Life Skills Coaching Approach Gurgaon (Partridge Publishing India) 2015 Complete—Verse
V. K. Parameswaran Pillai Kural Madras
Madurai Babaraj Thirukkural—Virtue Chennai (B. Vasantha) 2018 Partial—Prose How can one be merciful if one eats flesh of animals to develop his corporeal frame?
R. Jayaprakasam Thirukkural: Text in English & Tamil Chennai (Porselvi Pathippagam) 2019 Complete—Prose [37] How could he who eat the flesh for proliferation of his own flesh and body be enough compassionate?
Pattu M. Bhoopathi Thus Blossoms Love: A Transcreation of Kamattupal in Modern Verse Chennai (Sandhya Publications) 2019 Partial—Verse Translated Book III alone in modern verse form[38] Not translated
Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural Boston (Beacon Press) 2021
J. S. Anantha Krishnan Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural Kollam (Dream Bookbindery) 2021 Complete—Verse
Meena Kandasamy The Book of Desire New Delhi (Penguin Random House India) 2023 Partial—Prose Translated Book III alone in feministic viewpoint[39] Not translated
R. Natarajan The Kural: English Translation of the Ancient Tamil Text Thirukkural Chennai (Rare Publications) 2023 Complete
15 Fijian Samuel L. Berwick Na Tirukurala Nadi, Fiji (Sri Ramakrishna Mission) 1964 Complete [40][41] Loloma cava me tu tale vua,
Ke lewe ni manumanu e sa sagaa
Ena nona kocova wale ga
Me vakamatea me uro vua.
Paul Geraghty Tirukurali Na sere tabu Suva, Fiji (Reddy Group of Companies)[40] 2008 Complete E rawa vakacava ni yalololoma e dua ni dau kania na lewenimanumanu me ikuri ni lewe ni yogona.
16 Finnish Pentti Aalto Kural—The Ancient Tamil Classic Helsinki (Societas Orientalis Fennica) 1972 [32]
17 French Anonymous Kural de Thiruvalluvar, Selections Paris 1767 Selections
E. S. Ariel Kural de Thiruvalluvar (Traduits du Tamoul) Paris 1848 Selections
P. G. de Dumast 1854
Pierre-Eugène Lamairesse Thirukural in French Pondicherry 1867
Louis Jacolliot Paris (A Lacroix) 1876
G. Barrigue de Fontainieu Le Livre de l'amour de Thiruvalluva Paris (Lemerre) 1889
Julien Vinson Pondicherry 1893
Alain Daniélou Thiruvallouvar Kural Pondicherry 1942
Gnanou Diagou Tirou Vallouvar Koural (Thirukural in French) Pondicherry (Sandhanam)[42]
New Delhi (Asian Educational Services)
1942 Complete—Prose Comment celui qui mange la chair d'un autre être animé,
pour engraisser la sienne, peut-il se laisser gagner par la miséricorde.
Antonio Sorrentino (Francois Gros. Greenhouse 2) 1986
Mootoocoomaren Sangeelee Tirouk Koural[42] (Editions de L'Ocean Indien) 1988
François Gros Le Livre de l'Amour Paris (Gallimard, Collection UNESCO) 1992
S. Singh New Delhi (Richa Prakashan) 2003
Rama Valayden Port Louis, Mauritius 2007
T. Janakiraman Kalladan Kalladan, T. Janakiraman 2016
18 Garo A. Antoni Selvadoss Rongtalgipa Poido Meghalaya 2000 Complete—Verse
19 German August Friedrich Caemmerer Thirukural waith German Translation Leipzig 1803 Wie kann er zutreffendes Mitleid üben, das das Fleisch eines Tieres ißt,
um sein eigenes Fleisch zu mästen?
Friedrich Rückert Thirukural, Selections Berlin 1847 Selections
Karl Graul Der Kural des Tiruvalluver. Ein gnomisches Gedicht über die drei Strebeziele des Menschen. London (William & Norgate) and Leipzig (F. A. Brockhaus)[42] 1856 Complete Published as the third volume (220 pages) of the four-volume work Bibliotheca Tamulica sive Opera Praecipia Tamuliensium Wer, das eigne Fleisch zu mehren, fremdes Fleisch geniesst, — wie wird Der der Huld pflegen?
Fenz Albrecht and K. Lalithambal Thirukural von Thiruvalluvar aus dem Tamil Madurai 1877 Ißt jemand Fleisch von anderen Kreaturen, um sein eigenes Fleisch zu vermehren – wie kann er Gnade erlangen?
Albert Schweitzer
Uwe Beissert Basel (Project Ohms [AUM]) 1990
20 Greek Πώς μπορεί κάποιος, που τρώει τη σάρκα άλλων για να
φουσκώσει τη δική του σάρκα, να δείξει συμπόνοια;
21 Gujarati Najuklal Choksi Thirukural Ahmedabad(Sastu Sahitya) 1931
Kantilal L. Kalani Thirukural in Gujarati Bombay (University Book Board of Gujarat State) 1971 Select Translated only 852 couplets (from all chapters). Republished in 1985 by Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidhya Nagar.
P. C. Kokila Thirukkural in Gujarathi Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2015 Complete [43] સ્વમાંસ પોષણ હેતુ જે અન્ય (પ્રાણી)ના માંસનું કરે ભક્ષણ
દયાભાવ કેમ કરી હોય તેના (મન) માં?
22 Hindi Khenand Rakar Thirukural, Parts 1 and 2 Ajmer 1924 Republished in 1969.[44]
Khan Chand Rahit 1926
Govindaraj Shastri Jain Kural in Verse, First two parts New Delhi 1942
B. D. Jain Thirukural Thirupananthal 1952 Republished in 1961.
S. Sankar Raju Naidu Tamil Ved Madras (University of Madras Press) 1958
M. G. Venkatakrishnan Thirukural Trichy 1964 Complete Revised and enlarged edition published November 1998 by Sakthi Finance Ltd., Madras माँस-वृद्धि अपनी समझ, जो खाता पर माँस।
कैसे दयार्द्रता-सुगुण, रहता उसके पास॥
Uttar Ved 1967
Rajan Pillai Thirukural Lucknow 1976
K. Seshadri Thirukural in Hindi Lucknow 1982
Satsai 1982 Selections Translated 700 couplets
1989
T. E. S. Raghavan Thirukkural 1990 Complete—Verse Rendered a poetic rendition in 'Venba' metre as in the source[45]
Ananda Sandhidut Kural Kavitā Valī 2000
23 Indonesian A. S. Kobalen Tuntunan Bijak: Dari Masa ke Masa [Tirukural by Tiruwalluar] Complete—Prose Bagaimana seseorang mungkin memiliki sifat iba, yang memiliki maksud menambah daging jasadnya sendiri, akan memakan daging hewan lain.
M. Pazhanichamy Medan, Indonesia
24 Irish Gabriel Rosenstock An Thirukkural as Gaeilge (ISBN 978-1782013136) 2023 Complete [46]: 40 
25 Italian Antonio Sorrentino Tirukkural. Le massime di Tiruvalluvar Napoli (Ist Universitario Orientale Studi asiatici. Serie tre (Dept. of Asiatic Studies)) 1986 Complete 226 pages Come può esercitarsi nella pietà allineare che mangia la carne
di un animale per ingrassare la sua propria carne?
26 Japanese Shuzo Matsunaga Thirukkural Osaka 1981 (August) [47] 彼はいかに彼自身の肉を太らせるために動物の肉を食べる本当の同情を練習してもいいか。
Takanobu Takahashi Thirukkural: Sacred Verses of Ancient Tamil Tokyo (Heibonsha) 1999
27 Kannada B. M. Srikanthaiah Kural (Selections in verses) Bangalore 1940 Selections—Verse
L. Gundappa Thirukural Dharma Bhaga (Chapter on Virtue) Bangalore 1955 Partial Published a complete translation in 1960 under the title Thirukural (3 parts).
L. Gundappa Thirukural (3 parts) Madras 1960 Complete
P. S. Srinivas Thirukural with Original Couplets and Translations in Kannada Madurai 1982 Complete—Prose ತನ್ನ ಮೈ ಮಾಂಸವನ್ನು ಬೆಳಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇತರ ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳ ಮೈಮಾಂಸವನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನುವವನು ಹೇಗೆ ತಾನೆ ಕರುಣೆಯಿಂದ ಬಾಳಬಲ್ಲನು?
N. Munusamy Thirukural in Kannada 1985 [44]
K. Jayaraman Thirukural with Original Couplets and Translations in Kannada Mysore 2001
S. Srinivasan Tirukkural in Kannada Chennai 2014 Complete—Verse [48] ತನ್ನೊಡಲ ಬೆಳೆಸಲು ಉಣಲು ಬೇರೆ ಬಾಡನು
ತನ್ನೊಳು ಕರುಣೆ ಬರುವದೆಂತು?
28 Konkani Narayana Purushothama Mallaya Thirukkural in Konkani Kochi (Konkani Bhasha Prachar Sabha) 2002 Complete—Verse Began translating in 1987. Translation released on 23 June 2002.[49][50] अन्नदान करचाक तागेले मांस, कोण माम्स भक्षण कर्ता,।
कसले करुणायुक्त औदार्य, तसले मनुष्य अनुमान कर्ता?॥
Suresh Gundu Amonkar [51][52]
Gowri R. Mallya Mangaluru 2023 [53]
29 Korean 그는 어떻게 그 자신의 살을 살찌기 위하여 동물의 살을 먹는
진실한 연민을 실행해서 좋은가?
Sri Saravana Enterprises Thirukkural Chennai (International Institute of Tamil Studies) 2017 Complete—Prose 동물의 고기를 먹어 스스로 살찌우는 사람은 타인에게 결코 친절할 수 없다.
30 Latin Constanzo Beschi Thirukural (Books I and II) London 1730 Partial—Prose Qui ut sua caro pinguoscat, alienas carnes comedit quinam eum
viveutibus lenitatem et clementiam exercere dicetur?
Karl Graul Kural of Tiruvalluver. High-Tamil Text with Translation into Common Tamil and Latin, Notes and Glossary Tranquebar 1865 Published as the fourth volume (348 pages) of the four-volume work Bibliotheca Tamulica sive Opera Praecipia Tamuliensium Qui ut suam earnem augeat, alienas carnes comedit, quomodo is benevolentia utetur?
31 Malay Ramily Bin Haji Thakir Thirukural (in verses) Kuala Lumpur (Kural Ilakkam) 1964
Hussein Ismail Thirukural Sastera Kalasik Tamil Yang Kuala Lumpur (Jabatan Pengajian India) 1967
G. Soosai Thirukkural dalam bahasa Melayu (Thirukkural Kitab Murni Tamil Nadu) Kuala Lumpur 1978 Reprinted in 1991 Insan maging menikmati kekejaman
Tanpa belasan mengemukakan badan.
NA (Persatuan Hindu Universiti, Malaysia) 1997
M. Rajentheran/Kumaran Malaysia (Uma Publications) 2003
Singaravelu Sachithanantham Tirukkural translations into English (Thirukkural Tribahasa) Malaysia (Uma Publications) 2013 Complete—Verse Trilingual version with Tamil original and Malay and English versions translated by the translator. Bagaimanakah orang, yang membunuh tubuh makhluk lain, dan makan daging makhluk itu untuk membesarkan badannya sendiri, akan menjadi orang, yang memelihara arul (belas kasihan)?
32 Malayalam I. V. Ramaswamy Iyer Malayalathil Kural Trivandrum 1595 First ever translation of the Kural text in any language.
Perunazhi Krishna Vaidhyan Kural Trivandrum 1863 Partly translated. Republished in 1894.[44]
Azhakathu Kurup Thirukural in Verses Trivandrum 1875 Verse
A. Govinda Pillai Thirukural Trivandrum 1899 Translation currently unavailable
P. Damodaran Pillai Thirukural Manikal Trivandrum 1951
Sasthamangalam Ramakrishna Pillai Ramakrishna Tirukkural Trivandrum 1957 Translation completed 1933 with comprehensive commentary and notes, but published September 1957 with abridged commentary
Parmeshram Partial Translated only Books I and II
Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup Thirukural Kottayam (Writers Co-operative Society) 1957 Partial—Verse Reprinted in 1960 with translations for Books I and II in verse
K. Chellan Nadar Thirukural Tharmanaskantam Parassala 1962
Tiruvallam G. Bhaskaran Nair Bhasha Tirukkural (Dharmakandam) Trivandrum (Arul Nilayam) 1962 Partial—Prose Translated only Book I. Published with the original Tamil verse transliterated in Malayalam and a Malayalam commentary in prose.
G. Balakrishnan Nair Kural with Commentary, Part I Trivandrum 1963 Partial
S. Ramesan Nair Thirukkural Malayalam Vivarthanam Trivandrum (Trust Publications) 1998 Translated into old Malayalam
V. V. Abdulla Sahib Thirukkural Erode (Gupta Press) 2002 തൻ ദേഹം നിലനിർത്താനായ് മറുദേഹം ഭുജിപ്പവൻ
ജീവകാരുണ്യമുള്ളോനെന്നുരചെയ്യുവതെങ്ങനെ?
K. G. Chandrasekaran Nair Thirukkural (Sampoornabhashyam) Thiruvananthapuram (All Kerala Tamizh Federation) 2002 Prose Published by D. C. Books, Kottayam in 2003
M. R. R. Variar Thirukkural 2003
Shailaja Ravindran Thirukkural Kottayam (D. C. Books) 2007
33 Manipuri Soibam Rebika Devi Tirukkural in Manipuri Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2014 Complete—Prose [54] মশাবূ থাক্ননবা অতোপ্ত্রা জীবগী শদোঙ চাবা মীওই অদুগী মথম্মোইদা করন্না মীনুংশি ফাওগদৌরিবানা?
34 Marathi Sane Guruji Kavi Tiruvalluvar Kural (Kural: Theen Purushartha) Pune (Continental Publishers) 1930 Complete–Prose Translated in 1930, but officially published 1948. Second edition in 1960 and reprints in 1975 and 1987.[55][56][57] स्वतःची चरबी वाढावी म्हणून दुसन्या प्राण्यांचे जो मांस खातो; त्याला दया कशी बरे कधी वाटेल?
Narayana Govindarao Peshwe and Ganpath Govindarao Peshwe (Thirukkural) Belgaum (Dhananjay Press) 1930 Partial–Prose Translated only the first 89 chapters. First appeared in Lokamitra journal.[58]
Purushottam Dinkar Joshi Thiruvalluvar Virchit Tirukkural Mumbai (Maharashtra State Literature and Cultural Board) 1977 Complete–Prose Direct translation from the Tamil original.[59]
35 Norwegian Kevin Raja Kowsihaa Gowsegan Gowrithasan Krogh Thiruvalluvar sin Thirukkural på Norsk Oslo 2017 Complete—Verse
36 Odia Chittaranjan Das Kural (Oriya) Bhubaneswar (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan) 1978
Kishrod Dash Ch Thirukuralu—In Oriya Language Sambalpur 1985 Verse
Nityanada Acharya Tirukkural: Book of Sacred Couplets Balangir (Agragami Karyalaya) 1992 Partial Books I and II only
G. N. Das Vidyapuri Cuttack (Bidyapuri) 1994 Complete—Verse
Biswanath Misra Tirukkural Bhubaneswar 1996
Balaram Rout Thirukkural Delhi (Sahitya Akademi) 2017 Complete
37 Punjabi Ram Murti Sharma Thirukural Dhamma Granth of the Tamils Chandigarh 1983
Tarlochan Singh Bedi Tirukkural in Punjabi Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2012 Complete—Verse ਆਪਣਾ ਮਾਸ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਾਸ
ਖਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਇਆ ਭਾਵਨਾ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ
38 Polish Umadevi, Wandy Dynowskiej Tiruwalluwar: Tiru-Kural Madras (Biblioteka Polsko-Indyjska) 1958 Partial 141 pages
Bohdan Gębarski Tiruwalluwar "Tirukkural" ("Kural"). Święta księga południowych Indii Wrocław, Poland (Ossolineum)(Europa Publisher) 1977 Complete—Verse 152 pages; published again in 1998. Pożeraczem żywego nie może być człowiek,
Co wyznaje zasady pokoju.
39 Rajasthani Kamala Gurg Thirukural Needhi Sastra Jaipur 1982
40 Russian J. J. Glazov and A. Krishnamurthi Thirukural, a Book on Virtue, Politics and Love Moscow (Yodatel'stvovostvo Enog Literatury) 1963 Complete—Prose [60] Как может испытывать сострадание пожирающий плоть других живых созданий ради наращивания своей собственной?
D. V. Burba 1964 Select–Prose Translated the English translation of select couplets by C. Rajagopalachari, which contained 555 couplets from Book I and Book II. Not translated
Alif Ibragimov (Ibrahimov) Thirukural in Couplets with Illustrations Moscow 1974
Vithali Furniki Thirukkural Moscow (Library of Popular Literature) 1990 Complete—Prose Разве может испытывать чувства сострадания человек,
который поедает плоть других живых существ для увеличения своей плоти?
41 Sanskrit Thyagasamudram Shri Chakrapani Iyer 18th century Verse
Appa Vajapeyin Suniti Kusuma Mala Kumbakonam (Gururajachariar) 1922 Verse
Sankara Subramanya Sastri Sugati Ratnaakaraa 1937–1940 Verse Published as "Sugati Ratnaakaraa" in the journal Sahridaya
Anonymous (perhaps Vidya Bhushanam Pandit Shri Govindaraya Shastri) Delhi 1940 Verse Contains prose explanation in Hindi
Kaliyan Ramanuja Jeer Nanguneri 1956 Verse
S. N. Sriramadesikan Thirukural in Sanskrit Slokas Madras 1961 Complete—Verse Revised edition published in 1968. पोषणार्थे स्वदेहस्य कृत्वा य: प्राणिहिंसनम्।
तन्मांसभक्षणपर: स दयावान् कथं भवेत्॥
H. A. Chakrapani Iyer Tiruvalluvar in Sanskrit 1983 Verse
V. Indrajithu Thirukural Sanskrit Translation Mangudi (Athirai Publication) 2021 Complete—Verse स्वमांसवर्धनार्थं यो मांसं खादति प्राणिनः।
स कथं करुणाशीलो भविष्यति महीतले॥
42 Santali Ref. Fr. Richard V. Joe Torjakmayic Thirukkural—Nerunji Ilakkiya Iyakkam Partial (Book I)
43 Saurashtra S. Sankhu Ram Saurastra Thirukural Payiram—Pitika Pragaranam Madurai (Siddhasramam) 1980 Complete—Verse Published posthumously. Republished in 1993. அபுல்தனு ஹொட்3வன்அப்லான் ஆஸிது3ஸ்தன் கா2த்தெனு
கோனக ஸவ்கன் த3யொ
?
44 Sinhalese Govokgada M. Misihamy Thiruvalluvar's Kural Colombo (Anula Publishers) 1961 Complete තම සිරුර වඩනුව – අන්සතූ සිරුරු කන්නා
කරුණාව සිත තූළ – ඇති කරන්නේ කවර අයුරුද?
Charles De Silva Sirigiya (Thirukural in Sinhalese) Colombo (Sri Lanka Sahitya Mandalaya) 1964
45 Spanish G. Arul 1968 [24]
Sakthi Kumar/Kannan Kumar Kindle Edition [24]
John Buckthese Chinnappan Las Perlas Antiguas Tirukural en Español Atlantic City, NJ 2024 ¿Cómo puede alguien poseer bondad, si uno come carne de otro cuerpo para hacer crecer el propio cuerpo?
46 Swedish Yngve Frykholm Tirukkural sydindisk levnadsvisdom, statskunskap och kärlekskonst sammanfattad i 1330 epigram av tamilskalden Tiruvalluvar Uddevalla 1971 Complete—Prose Hur skall den kunna behärskas av godhet som äter andra varelsers kött för att hans eget kött må stärkas?
47 Telugu Venkatrama Srividyanandaswami Trivarga Dipika Nellore 1877
Sakkam Narasimhalu Naidu Trivargamu 1892 Partial
Venkatram Nīti Mañcari
Lakshminarayana Sastri Kural Chittoor 1906
P. Sriramulu Reddi Trivargamu Putthalapatti 1948
Jagannatha Sastri, Mudiganthi Thiruvalluva Sookthalu West Godavari 1952
Challa Radhakrishna Sarma Tamila Vedhamu Madras 1954
Jalayya Nitisudha 1955
Sonti Sripati Sastry Sri Padula 1966
Gurucharan Dutaluri Jagannadham Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar in Telugu Kuppam (Dravidian University) 1986 Verse బలియ గోరి తాను బలిజేయు జీవుల
నట్టి కెట్టు లమరు తరుణ
Jayaprakash Tirukkural in Telugu Chennai (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) 2014 Complete–Prose తన శరీరంలోని కండలు పెంచుకోవడం కోసం వేరొక ప్రాణి శరీరాన్ని ఆహారంగా స్వీకరించేవారు ఏ విధంగా దయా స్వభావులవుతారు?
48 Thai 2019 Complete Released in Bangkok by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 November 2019. Translated from the English version by M. Rajaram (2009).
49 Tok Pisin Subha Sasindran and Sasindran Muthuvel 2023 Complete Released in Papua New Guinea by Narendra Modi on 21 May 2023.[61][62]
50 Urdu Hasarat Surawathi Kural in Urdu New Delhi (Sahitya Akademi) 1966 Prose Translated from an English translation.
Muhamad Yusuf Kohan Kural in Urdu and Arabic Madras 1976
Mukhtar Badri Lafz lafz gohar Chennai (Nazir Book Depot) 2001 Verse Translated from the Tamil original.
51 Vaagri Booli Kittu Sironmani [63]


Table of available translations

edit
S. No. Language Year of first
translation
No. of translations
available
(as of 2024)[22]: 19–20 
No. of complete
translations available
(as of 2021)
1. Arabic 1976 6 5
2. Armenian 1978 1 1
3. Assamese 2012 2 2
4. Awadhi 2023 1 1
5. Badaga 2022 1 1
6. Bengali 1939 5 4
7. Bhojpuri 2023 1 1
8. Bodo 2023 1 1
9. Burmese 1964 2 2
10. Chinese 1967 3 2
11. Creole 2007 3 1
12. Czech 1952 1 0
13. Danish 2021 2 2
14. Dogri 1
15. Dutch 1964 1 0
16. English 1794 143 32
17. Fijian 1964 2
18. Finnish 1972 2 0
19. French 1767 19
20. Garo 2000 1
21. German 1803 8
22. Gujarati 1931 3 1
23. Hindi 1924 21
24. Indonesian 3 1
25. Irish 1
26. Italian 1985 1 1
27. Japanese 1981 2
28. Kannada 1940 9
29. Kashmiri 1
30. Khmer 1
31. Kodava 1
32. Konkani 2002 3 1
33. Korean 1981 2 1
34. Koraga 1
35. Latin 1730 5 1
36. Malay 1964 6
37. Malayalam 1595 24
38. Marathi 1930 3 2
39. Maithili 2017 1 1
40. Meitei 2012 1 1
41. Nepali 1
42. Norwegian 2017 1 1
43. Odia 1978 7 5
44. Polish 1958 2
45. Punjabi 1983 2
46. Persian 1
47. Rajasthani 1982 1
48. Russian 1963 5 2
49. Sanskrit 1922 10
50. Santali 1 0
51. Saurashtra 1980 2 1
52. Sinhalese 1961 2
53. Spanish 1
54. Swedish 1971 1
55. Telugu 1877 19
56. Thai 2019 1 1
57. Tok Pisin 2023 1
58. Tulu 1
59. Urdu 1965 4
60. Vaagri Booli 2

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Edward Jewitt Robinson (1873). Tamil Wisdom; Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages, and Selections from their writings. London: Wesleyan Conference Office.
  2. ^ a b Mukherjee, Sujit (1999). A Dictionary of Indian Literature: One: Beginnings–1850. Vol. 1 (1 ed.). Hyderabad: Orient Longman. pp. 392–393. ISBN 81-250-1453-5.
  3. ^ George, K. M. (1973). Tirukkural and Malayalam. In: First All India Tirukkural Seminar Papers (N. Sanjeevi, ed.) (2nd ed.). University of Madras. pp. 44–49.
  4. ^ Mohan Lal (1992). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3.
  5. ^ Kamil Zvelebil (1973). The smile of Murugan on Tamil literature of South India. BRILL. p. 156. ISBN 978-90-04-03591-1.
  6. ^ a b c Amaladass, Anand (2007). "Values in Leadership in the Tamil Tradition of Tirukkural Vs. Present-day Leadership Theories" (PDF). International Management Review. 3 (1): 9–16. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d Ramasamy, V. (2001). On Translating Tirukkural (First ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 28–47.
  8. ^ Ebeling, Sascha (2010). Colonizing the Realm of Words: The Transformation of Tamil Literature in Nineteenth-Century South India. Albany, New York: SUNY Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-4384-3199-4.
  9. ^ Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, p. 257
  10. ^ A stone inscription found on the walls of a well at the Periya palayathamman temple at Royapettai indicates Ellis' regard for Thiruvalluvar. It is one of the 27 wells dug on the orders of Ellis in 1818, when Madras suffered a severe drinking water shortage. In the long inscription Ellis praises Thiruvalluvar and uses a couplet from Thirukkural to explain his actions during the drought. When he was in charge of the Madras treasury and mint, he also issued a gold coin bearing Thiruvalluvar's image. The Tamil inscription on his grave makes note of his commentary of Thirukkural.Mahadevan, Iravatham. "The Golden coin depicting Thiruvalluvar −2". Varalaaru.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  11. ^ The original inscription in Tamil written in the Asiriyapa meter and first person perspective: (The Kural he quotes is in Italics)
    சயங்கொண்ட தொண்டிய சாணுறு நாடெனும் | ஆழியில் இழைத்த வழகுறு மாமணி | குணகடன் முதலாக குட கடலளவு | நெடுநிலம் தாழ நிமிர்ந்திடு சென்னப் | பட்டணத்து எல்லீசன் என்பவன் யானே | பண்டாரகாரிய பாரம் சுமக்கையில் | புலவர்கள் பெருமான் மயிலையம் பதியான் | தெய்வப் புலமைத் திருவள்ளுவனார் | திருக்குறள் தன்னில் திருவுளம் பற்றிய் | இருபுனலும் வாய்த்த மலையும் வருபுனலும் | வல்லரணும் நாட்டிற் குறுப்பு | என்பதின் பொருளை என்னுள் ஆய்ந்து | ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ சாலிவாகன சகாப்த வரு | ..றாச் செல்லா நின்ற | இங்கிலிசு வரு 1818ம் ஆண்டில் | பிரபவாதி வருக்கு மேற் செல்லா நின்ற | பஹுதான்ய வரு த்தில் வார திதி | நக்ஷத்திர யோக கரணம் பார்த்து | சுப திநத்தி லிதனோ டிருபத்தேழு | துரவு கண்டு புண்ணியாஹவாசநம் | பண்ணுவித்தேன்.
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References

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  • Sanjeevi, N (1973). Marathi Translation of Tirukkural. In: First All India Tirukkural Seminar Papers (2nd ed.). Chennai: University of Madras. pp. 50–55.
  • M. G. Kovaimani and P. V. Nagarajan (2013). திருக்குறள் ஆய்வுமாலை [Tirukkural Research Papers] (in Tamil) (1 ed.). Tanjavur: Tamil University. ISBN 978-81-7090-435-9.
  • "Thirukkural now in Arabic". The Hindu. Chennai. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  • Pattu M. Bhoopathi (2019). Thus Blossoms Love: A transcreation of Kamattupal in modern verse. Chennai: Sandhya Publications. ISBN 978-93-87499-85-0.
  • Tamilselvan, R.; Manimala, J.; Murali, M.; Mathan, V. P. S.; Amirtharaj, T. Vijay (2017). உலக மொழிகளில் திருக்குறள் மொழிபெயர்ப்புகள் [Tirukkural translations in world languages] (1st ed.). Chennai: Kaavya. ISBN 978-93-86576-35-4.

Further reading

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