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Tirukkural — Kadavul Vazhthu (In Praise of God)

Tirukkural — Kadavul Vazhthu (In Praise of God) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 6× repetitions·🕐 Early morning, before study or any new undertaking; recited as a benediction at the start of functions·📜 Tirukkural, Chapter 1 — Kadavul Vazhthu (kurals 1-10), by Thiruvalluvar

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

These famous couplets open the Tirukkural, the revered Tamil classic of ethics and wisdom by the sage Thiruvalluvar. The very first chapter, 'Kadavul Vazhthu' (In Praise of God), declares God as the first cause of all — as 'A' is of all letters — and teaches that worship of the Lord's feet brings long life, freedom from sorrow and karma, and the crossing of the ocean of rebirth. The opening line 'Agara mudala ezhuthellam' is among the most quoted in all Tamil literature.

Origin & Story

Tirukkural, Chapter 1 — Kadavul Vazhthu (kurals 1-10), by Thiruvalluvar · Thiruvalluvar · Ancient Tamil classical era (c. 1st-5th century CE)

The Tirukkural is the masterwork of the sage Thiruvalluvar, who tradition says lived in Mylapore. Composed in the terse, elegant venba metre, its 1,330 couplets are arranged in 133 chapters of ten couplets each. The work opens not with worldly matters but with 'Kadavul Vazhthu', the praise of God, affirming that all virtue rests on the divine. These opening couplets have for centuries been the first lines Tamil children learn, and are recited as an invocation across the Tamil world.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that the Tirukkural was acclaimed by the assembly of poets (the Sangam) at Madurai, where it alone, placed upon the sacred plank in the temple tank, did not sink but stayed afloat while lesser works slid off — a sign of its divinely inspired truth.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

akara mudhala ezhuththellām ādhi bhagavan mudhaṟṟē ulagu.

Meaning:These are the opening couplets of the Tirukkural, from its very first chapter, 'Kadavul Vazhthu' (In Praise of God), by the sage Thiruvalluvar.

Verse 2

kaṟṟadhanāl āya payanenkol vālaṟivan naṟṟāḷ thozhāar enin.

Meaning:1. As the letter 'A' is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is the beginning (the first cause) of the world.

Verse 3

malarmisai ēkinān māṇaḍi sērndhār nilamisai nīḍuvāzh vār.

Meaning:2. What is the use of all the learning one has acquired, if one does not worship the good feet of Him who is pure wisdom?

Verse 4

vēṇḍudhal vēṇḍāmai ilānaḍi sērndhārkku yāṇḍum iḍumbai ila.

Meaning:3. Those who reach the glorious feet of Him who dwells in the blossomed (lotus) heart will live long and flourish upon the earth.

Verse 5

iruḷsēr iruvinaiyum sērā iṟaivan poruḷsēr pugazhpurindhār māṭṭu.

Meaning:4. For those who reach the feet of Him who is free of all desire and aversion, there is no sorrow at any time.

Verse 6

piṟavip perungaḍal nīndhuvar nīndhār iṟaivan aḍisērā dhār.

Meaning:5. The two deeds (good and evil karma) bound to dark delusion will never cling to those devoted to the true praise of the Lord.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

akara mudhala🔊Having the letter 'A' (akaram) as its first/beginning.

ezhuththellām🔊All the letters (of the alphabet).

ādhi bhagavan🔊The primordial God (Adi Bhagavan), the first cause.

mudhaṟṟē ulagu🔊Is the beginning/first of the world — as 'A' is of all letters, so God is of the universe.

kaṟṟadhanāl āya payan🔊The benefit gained from all that one has learned.

vālaṟivan naṟṟāḷ thozhāar enin🔊If one does not worship the good feet of the Pure Intelligence (the all-wise God) — what use is learning?

malarmisai ēkinān🔊He who walks/dwells upon the (lotus) flower — i.e. who resides in the blossomed heart of devotees.

māṇaḍi sērndhār🔊Those who reach/cling to His glorious feet.

nilamisai nīḍuvāzhvār🔊Will live long and prosper upon this earth.

vēṇḍudhal vēṇḍāmai ilān🔊He who is free of both desire and aversion (likes and dislikes).

aḍi sērndhārkku yāṇḍum iḍumbai ila🔊For those who reach His feet, there is no sorrow at any time.

iruḷsēr iruvinaiyum🔊The two deeds (good and evil karma) joined to the darkness (of delusion).

sērā🔊Will not cling / will not approach.

iṟaivan poruḷsēr pugazh purindhār māṭṭu🔊Upon those who devote themselves to the true and meaningful praise of the Lord.

piṟavip perungaḍal🔊The vast ocean of births (the cycle of birth and death, samsara).

nīndhuvar🔊They will swim across (cross over it).

nīndhār iṟaivan aḍisērādhār🔊Those who do not reach the Lord's feet will not be able to cross it.

Benefits of Chanting Tirukkural — Kadavul Vazhthu (In Praise of God)

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Opens the Tirukkural, the 'Tamil Veda' — revered across faiths as a universal guide to virtue and right living.

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The first couplet 'Agara mudala' is recited as a sacred invocation before study, ceremonies and auspicious beginnings.

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Cultivates devotion to God as the first cause of all, and teaches that learning is fruitful only when joined to worship.

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Promises long life, freedom from sorrow, release from the bondage of karma, and the crossing of the ocean of rebirth.

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Memorising these couplets instils both moral clarity and the cadence of classical Tamil in the devotee.

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Cherished by Tamils worldwide as the highest expression of wisdom, equally honoured in homes, schools and temples.

How to Chant Tirukkural — Kadavul Vazhthu (In Praise of God)

Repetitions6times

Best TimeEarly morning, before study or any new undertaking; recited as a benediction at the start of functions

FaceFacing east

Recite slowly and clearly, ideally beginning with the first couplet 'Agara mudala ezhuthellam', which is traditionally chanted as an opening invocation. Reflect on the meaning of each kural as a complete thought in itself — the Kural's two-line venba form is designed to be memorised. Many begin academic or auspicious events with this verse to invoke the grace of God before any work.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Tirukkural — Kadavul Vazhthu (In Praise of God) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The Tirukkural is a classic Tamil work of 1,330 couplets (kurals) on virtue (aram), wealth (porul) and love (inbam), composed by the sage Thiruvalluvar. Revered as the 'Tamil Veda', it is one of the most translated and honoured texts in the world, prized for its universal ethical wisdom across all religions.

It means: just as the letter 'A' (akaram) is the first of all letters, so the eternal God (Adi Bhagavan) is the first cause of the world. It is among the most famous lines in Tamil and is often recited as a benediction before beginning any study or event.

Thiruvalluvar was an ancient Tamil poet-sage, traditionally dated to around the early centuries CE, who lived near Mylapore (Chennai). He is universally revered as 'Valluvar', and his Tirukkural is regarded as a timeless guide to righteous living that transcends caste, creed and religion.

The opening chapter 'Kadavul Vazhthu' establishes God as the foundation of all virtue and the first cause of existence, teaching that learning and ethical life bear fruit only when grounded in devotion to the Lord's feet. This sets the spiritual basis for the whole work on virtue, wealth and love.