Tirukkural-On Virtue-In Praise Of God-The Importance Of Virtue

Ceyarpala torum arane oruvarku
Uyarpala torum pali.

That which should be done is virtue;
That which should be avoided is vice.

One is reminded in this context of the old familiar English passage, which is a very near rendering of this couplet.

'Abhor that which is evil; cling to that which is good."

This finishes the four introductory chapters (paayiram) of Tirukkural. These are vital chapters which constitute the key to the entire Tirukkural. That is why Nallathanar in Thiruvalluvamalai said, that if a reader learnt all the 1330 Kurals in the context of the introduction, there is no need for him to learn anything else:

Aayirathu munnootru mupatharung kuralum
Paayirathinodu paharndhadar pin-Poyoruthar
Vaai kaetka noolulavo mannu tamil pulava
raaik kaetka veetrirukkalaam