NEW DELHI: A Russian translation of ‘Thirukkural’, the influential Tamil work whose wisdom PM Narendra Modi has often drawn on in his speeches, was his gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday as they met ahead of the Brics summit.The ancient book carries 1,330 short couplets offering moral guidance on principally three pursuits – virtue, govt and society, and love. Besides Modi, parliamentarians, especially those from Tamil Nadu, often quote from it. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has drawn from it during her budget speeches and so has P Chidambaram when he was in office.While the book offers wisdom on the strategy for war when needed, it also emphasises the virtue of peace – a principle Modi has often advocated by stressing the need to avoid conflicts. In their past meetings, he has nudged Putin to end the Ukraine conflict, which is now in its fifth year.“Presented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders,” Modi said.