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How is the Tirukkural structured and what are its three main sections?

A timeless marvel of concise poetry and ethical guidance, the Tirukkural unfolds over 1,330 couplets, each a two-lined aphorism draped in the classical Tamil venpa metre. Think of it as a trilogy of life’s essentials, neatly packaged in 133 chapters of ten couplets apiece—like a well-curated playlist that never skips a beat.

First comes Aram (Virtue), the moral compass. Spanning 38 chapters, these 380 couplets explore righteousness, compassion and personal integrity. They read like evergreen advice on kindness in leadership or everyday acts of goodwill—qualities that resonate strongly amid today’s calls for ethical governance and social responsibility.

Next up is Porul (Wealth), covering 70 chapters or 700 couplets, a deep dive into worldly affairs: politics, economics, strategy and the art of public service. Modern CEOs and policymakers still draw parallels between these age-old insights and today’s boardroom tactics or community initiatives, proving that good governance never goes out of style.

Finally, Inbam (Love) brings 25 chapters—250 couplets celebrating affection, intimacy and the nuances of human relationships. It captures the thrill of first love as well as the steady warmth of companionship, a reminder that emotional intelligence matters as much now as it did two millennia ago.

Layered with universal appeal and peppered with pithy wisdom, the Tirukkural’s tripartite design—Virtue, Wealth, Love—continues to spark conversations worldwide, from academic halls to social media threads.