Thirukkural (), also known as the Kural, is a classic Tamil sangam (3rd century BC

to 4th century AD) literature composition. It has 1,330 couplets or kurals. It was authored by the

renowned poet Thiruvalluvar.

The Thirukkural is one of the most important works in the Tamil language. This is reflected in some of

the other names by which the text is given by such as Tamil marai (Tamil Vedas); poyyamozhi

(words that never fail); and Deiva nool (divine text).

Just like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-Gita and other scriptures, Thirukkural is also replete

with words of wisdom. It is simple and contains profound messages.

Thirukkural has 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets. Broadly speaking, all the 133 chapters can

be divided into three sections: Righteousness, Wealth and Love. In the text below, the serial number

of each couplet appears on the top, followed by its Tamil text and then by its near-literal translation in

English.

Practising as well as aspiring managers could draw quite a few lessons from Thirukkural. Here is a

modest attempt to capture a few of its facets.

Leadership

Leadership is more of an attitude and a way of living and behaving. It is about opening ones heart. It

is about inspiring those around one. It is about leading others by example. It is about standing up for

others and shielding them from harm.

770 Of what avail is the army of heroic warriors

if there be no general to guide them?

388 He is a God among men who shields his

subjects.

A good leader is an avid listener. He encourages dissent.

416 Listen to wholesome counsel however

meager; for out of it springs great good.

389 The world is under the sway of the monarch

who puts up with bold and bitter counsel.

529 Reject none on the score of disagreement.

Men who have become estranged will flock to you.

A leaders life is not easy. Following dharma (righteousness) is his/her foremost trait. Being impartial

and just is another.

33 Avail yourself of all opportunities. Do not

cease from practicing Dharma on all possible occasions to the best of your ability.

111 An equity which knows no partiality is in

itself a unique virtue.

 432 Niggardliness, empty honor, blind

favoritism, are all the faults of a king.

541 Strict enquiry and impartial justice mark

the rule of a just monarch.

Intuition plays an important role in the life of a leader. Steve Jobs life is a living example of this trait.

429 Men of foresight who guard themselves

against coming events know no distress.

Leadership is about human experiences and not about processes.

578 The world belongs to a king who can do his

duty and yet be courteous.

Mergers and acquisitions often follow the rule of tying up with a former adversary in business. Google

acquired Android, YouTube and Motorola Mobility, so as to extend the reach of its business as also to

diversify into related verticals.

679 It is much more urgent to secure the

alliance of ones enemies, than to do good to ones friends.

Brand Image of an Organization

Thirukkural has chapters which are intended for developing and managing kingdoms. The attributes of

an ideal kingdom mentioned in the ancient text are equally applicable to the contemporary corporate

world.

738

Five are the ornaments of a kingdom absence

of disease, wealth, fertility, happiness and security.

This can be interpreted to mean that a great company is one which has a strong brand image amongst

all its stakeholders. Healthy and vibrant employees form the backbone of a company. By generating a

surplus for its shareholders, wealth gets created. A culture which enables fertile imagination and

innovation ensures its long-term survival and well-being. A result-oriented but relaxed culture results
into greater happiness of its employees. Guarding the companys assets material as well as

intellectual ensures survival in a highly competitive environment.

Management

Managers need to be resolute, decisive and action-oriented. Loyalty to the management and operating

within the company policy paradigm are two of the several qualities they need to have.

668 What you have clearly decided to do, do it

without hesitation and delay.

766 Heroism, honor, tried policy and fidelity to

the king, these four are an armys shelter.

Stephen Covey has spoken of the habit of sharpening the saw. The poet also emphasizes the need to

keep upgrading our subject knowledge, so as to do well in our careers.

401 Entering an assembly without sufficient

knowledge is like playing at a dice board without its knowledge.

444 To follow in the footsteps of those who are

greater than oneself is the crown of ones strengths.

Planning, and thinking ahead, needs to be given a high priority. Want to beat the competition? Know

its strengths and review your plans accordingly.

461 After much deliberation over profit and loss

and the final gains, launch on a task.

471 A king must act after measuring the

strength of his plan, his own resources, the strength of the enemy and that of the ally.

Restraining anger is important. Anger is also an important weapon in a managers arsenal. It can be

used to put in place a team member who might be getting too big for his boots. When held back and

allowed to simmer within, it can be used very effectively. Patience and forbearance are recommended.

We also need to have the knack of getting our timing right!

 305 If a man were to guard himself, let him

restrain anger. Otherwise anger gets the better of him.

487 The wise will not fly into a passion when

assailed; they allow their anger to smoulder within till the right time comes.

158 Conquer with forbearance one who has

done you harm and caused you anguish.

484 One can succeed in the attempt to conquer

the world if the right time and the right place are chosen.

Management is all about getting things done. A smart manager would know what needs to be done,

who is the best person for doing it, and the right time to get it done.

516 The thing to be done, the proper person for

it and the appropriate time for doing it, must all be duly weighed.

Meetings

Here are some guidelines on when to speak, how to speak and what to speak.

711 Men should weigh their words in speaking

when addressing an audience.

 714 Before brilliant people, be brilliant; before

plain people, be as plain as white chalk.

715 The humility to maintain silence before

superiors is the best of all good qualities.

Planning and Execution

The poet exhorts us to avoid procrastination.

674 An unfinished deed and an unfinished fight

will, like a half-extinguished fire, cause ultimate harm.

675 Do a thing after carefully deliberating on

five things resources, means, the time, the nature of the deed, and the place.

677 The manner in which a thing should be

done is to be determined after consulting an expert.

Getting Hired

Whether we are hiring a chartered accountant or an engineer, the cultural fit with the company is of

great importance. People who sound the same based on their CVs are all different. Their value

systems are determined by the family they belong to and the environment they have grown up in.

Their personality traits are not the same.

Would they fit in with their immediate team members? Would they vibe well with the culture of the

organization? These are some of the questions to be asked so as to ensure that we make better hiring

decisions.

960 Out of modesty springs ones greatness.

Out of humility rises the honor of the family.

951 Probity and a sense of shame are virtues

innate only in men of noble lineage.

The poet also exhorts us to make a hiring choice with due diligence.

509 Let men be chosen with deliberate care;

when once the choice is made, let no suspicions crawl into your soul.

632 A minister should have five qualities:

tenacity of purpose, birth in a respectable family, welfare of people, profound learning and

perseverance.

Managing the Self

Like all spiritual texts, Thirukkural also extols the virtues of connecting with ones inner self.

Being amiable and speaking positively helps.

93 To welcome one with a pleasant look and

loving words is righteousness.

Helping others in a self-less manner may result into long-term loyalists getting developed. However,

help rendered to an ungrateful person could be a waste of ones time and efforts.

103 Help done expecting no return, if weighed,

will be vaster than the sea.

105 Help rendered is not in terms of the return

but its value depends on the receiver.

Forgetting and forgiving helps us to reduce our own stress levels.

108 It is not good to forget the benefit received;

but it is good to forget then and there the injury done by another.

Self control is the real treasure. So is walking on the right path.

122 There is no greater wealth than self-

control; treasure it as your wealth.

132 Strive hard to walk in the right path. One

finds it ones surest ally.

Loose talk, inane gossip and back-biting happen to be some of the tricks of making enemies and

losing friends!

187 Those who alienate friends by back-biting

may have forgotten the art of making friends through suavity of speech.

200 Speak profitable words; avoid nonsense.

Gems of General Wisdom

Renown

234 The wise are not favored by the gods; but

the renowned on earth are adored by them.

 Compassion

250 Oppress not the weak; remember your own

fate in stronger hands.

Truth

298 Water cleanses the body; truth cleanses the

soul.

True knowledge

352 Men of pure vision are led from darkness to

light.

Will Power

595 The greatness of a person is proportionate

to the strength of his will power.

Challenges

621 Laugh over your obstacles; nothing like it to

push them further and further.

When it comes to cautioning leaders and managers against amorous advances within the confines of

their place of work, Thirukkural is silent. However, it is interesting to note that in the Love section, it

does deal with matters of romance, sex and lust. If there are observations from the view-point of the
so-called sterner sex, we also find insights from the delicately nurtured amongst us. To that extent,

the text may be held to demonstrate a decent level of gender parity. Chivalry is far from being dead!

Each kural is complete in itself. It deserves to be meditated upon, one at a time, and imbibed in our

day-to-day lives. One wonders at the keen observations of the poet, his sagacity and the effort he has

taken to collate and compile this beautiful work, replete with words of wisdom which continue to be as

relevant today as they were in the days of yore.