# LXXVIII: The Self-Abandon of the Warrior explained — The Kural

> Chapter companion for The Kural by Thiruvalluvar.

## What happens

This chapter extols the virtues of a warrior's self-sacrifice, courage, and discipline in battle, emphasizing that true valor lies in fearless confrontation, chivalrous generosity to the fallen, and a relentless pursuit of honor and fame, even at the cost of one's life.

## Themes in this chapter

### Virtue and Righteousness

The warrior's courage and discipline are framed as virtuous, with chivalrous generosity to the fallen as a righteous act.

### The Vanity of Worldly Life

The warrior's disregard for personal safety and counting days without wounds as wasted underscores a transcendence of worldly concerns for honor.

## Character check-ins

### Thiruvalluvar

Author of the Kural, presenting teachings on warrior ethos.

### the Kural

The text itself, containing the verses on warrior conduct.

## Key lines

> The furious courage that striketh hard, that is what they call valour: but it is chivalrous generosity to the fallen that giveth it its edge.

True valor is not just aggressive force but is perfected by merciful treatment of defeated enemies.

_Highlights the balance between martial aggression and ethical conduct._

> The hero counteth those days as wasted on which he receiveth not deep gashes on his body.

A hero considers any day without receiving serious battle wounds as a day lost.

_Emphasizes the warrior's longing for physical proof of courage._

> If one can die so as to draw tears from the eyes of one’s chief, one may even go a-begging in order to obtain for oneself such a death.

If a warrior's death can move his leader to tears, he would willingly beg for the chance to die that way.

_Illustrates the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of honor and the chief's esteem._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters/lxxviii-the-self-abandon-of-the-warrior
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters