Thirukkural 140 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உலகத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகல் பலகற்றும்
கல்லார் அறிவிலா தார்
Transliteration
Ulakaththotu Otta Ozhukal Palakatrum
Kallaar Arivilaa Thaar
Modern English
“No matter how many books someone has read or degrees they've earned, if they haven't learned how to get along decently with the people around them, they're still missing something essential.”
Modern Interpretation
No matter how many books someone has read or degrees they've earned, if they haven't learned how to get along decently with the people around them, they're still missing something essential. Real wisdom includes knowing how to behave. For example, a brilliant student who can't work respectfully in a group, dismissing everyone else's ideas, is missing a kind of intelligence that grades don't measure.
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Modern Plain English
No matter how many books someone has read or degrees they've earned, if they haven't learned how to get along decently with the people around them, they're still missing something essential.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Though read much they are ignorant Whose life is not world-accordant
G.U. Pope Translation
Who know not with the world in harmony to dwell,May many things have learned, but nothing well
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those who know not how to act agreeably to the world, though they have learnt many things, are still ignorant
Tamil commentary
முந்திய அறநூல்கள் கூறியவற்றுள் இன்றைக்குப் பொருந்தாதவற்றை விலக்கியும், கூறாதனவற்றுள் பொருந்துவனவற்றை ஏற்றும் வாழக் கல்லாதவர், பல்வேறு நூல்களைக் கற்றவரே என்றாலும் அறிவில்லாதவரே.
Chapter 14
More from The Possession of Decorum
ஒழுக்கம் உடைமை
Decorum does one dignity More than life guard its purity
Kural 132Virtues of conduct all excel; The soul aid should be guarded well
Kural 133Good conduct shows good family Low manners mark anomaly
Kural 134Readers recall forgotten lore, But conduct lost returns no more
Kural 135The envious prosper but ill The ill-behaved sinks lower still
Kural 136The firm from virtue falter not They know the ills of evil thought
Kural 137Conduct good ennobles man, Bad conduct entails disgrace mean
Kural 138Good conduct sows seeds of blessings Bad conduct endless evil brings
Kural 139Foul words will never fall from lips Of righteous men even by slips
Kural 140Though read much they are ignorant Whose life is not world-accordant