Tirukkural-based stories
Friday, 26.03.2010, 09:44am (GMT+5.5)
IN THIS work with a rather intriguing title, the author has attempted to connect Tirukkural couplets through stories or events in history/mythology. However, not all the stories or events perfectly match the Kural she has chosen to quote. Some of them even appear contrived.
The 108 stories in the book relate to the couplets in the first two sections of Tirukkural — Aratthuppaal (morals) and Porutpaal (things material). For instance, the story of Porkai Pandiyan, the king who cuts his hand off to remove the suspicion of his subjects, is used to illustrate the couplet that says: ‘The world will cling to the feet of the emperor who cherishes his subjects and at the same time wields the rod of justice.' The Kural that is linked to the historical episode of the brutal killing of Paari seems inappropriate, while the story cited to illustrate a couplet on ‘arrogance' is apt only partially. However, It must be said to the author's credit that the narration is uniformly simple and elegant.
Malarkodi Rajendran; Vijaya Pathippagam, 20 Raja Street, Coimbatore-641001. Rs. 250.
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