Thirukkural 193 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நயனிலன் என்பது சொல்லும் பயனில
பாரித் துரைக்கும் உரை.
Transliteration
Nayanilan Enpadhu Sollum Payanila
Paarith Thuraikkum Urai
Modern English
“Someone who goes on at length about things that don't matter reveals, through that habit alone, that they haven't thought carefully about what's actually worth saying.”
Modern Interpretation
Someone who goes on at length about things that don't matter reveals, through that habit alone, that they haven't thought carefully about what's actually worth saying. Rambling isn't a personality quirk; it's often a sign of not editing your thoughts. For example, someone who can't stop talking about unrelated details during a meeting comes across as less thoughtful than someone who says less but means more.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Someone who goes on at length about things that don't matter reveals, through that habit alone, that they haven't thought carefully about what's actually worth saying.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The babbler's hasty lips proclaim That \"good-for-nothing\" is his name
G.U. Pope Translation
Diffusive speech of useless words proclaimsA man who never righteous wisdom gains
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
That conversation in which a man utters forth useless things will say of him "he is without virtue."
Tamil commentary
பயனற்ற சொற்களை விரித்துப் பேசும் ஒருவன் பேச்சு அவன் நீதியற்றவன் என்பதைக் காட்டிவிடும்.
Chapter 20
More from Against Vain Speaking
பயனில சொல்லாமை
With silly words who insults all Is held in contempt as banal
Kural 192Vain talk before many is worse Than doing to friends deeds adverse
Kural 193The babbler's hasty lips proclaim That \"good-for-nothing\" is his name
Kural 194Vain words before an assembly Will make all gains and goodness flee
Kural 195Glory and grace will go away When savants silly nonsense say
Kural 196Call him a human chaff who prides Himself in weightless idle words
Kural 197Let not men of worth vainly quack Even if they would roughly speak
Kural 198The wise who weigh the worth refrain From words that have no grain and brain
Kural 199The wise of spotless self-vision Slip not to silly words-mention
Kural 200To purpose speak the fruitful word And never indulge in useless load