Thirukkural brims with exactly 1,330 couplets, neatly arranged into 133 chapters of ten kurals each, spanning three broad themes: virtue (aram), wealth (porul) and love (inbam). Every couplet is a self-contained pearl of wisdom, fashioned in the classical Tamil “Kural Venba” form—a special variety of the venba meter.

A Kural Venba runs just two lines: the first line carries four metrical feet, the second three, with each foot following strict rules of Tamil prosody. Despite its brevity—only seven feet in all—each kurall packs a philosophical punch, balancing concise expression with rhythmic harmony. This precision makes the Tirukkural feel almost like an ancient tweet, yet its insights still resonate today—whether quoted in boardrooms or whispered at college graduations.

Centuries on, its compact verses continue to influence writers, leaders and everyday readers. From Tamil Nadu’s classrooms to international ethics seminars, these 1,330 couplets stand the test of time as a masterclass in marrying form and function.