Thirukkural 194 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

நயன்சாரா நன்மையின் நீக்கும் பயன்சாராப்
பண்பில்சொல் பல்லா ரகத்து.

Transliteration

Nayansaaraa Nanmaiyin Neekkum Payansaaraap
Panpilsol Pallaa Rakaththu

English Translation

“Vain words before an assembly Will make all gains and goodness flee”

Plain-English meaning

The words devoid of profit or pleasure which a man speaks will, being inconsistent with virtue,

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Vain words before an assembly Will make all gains and goodness flee

G.U. Pope Translation

Unmeaning, worthless words, said to the multitude,To none delight afford, and sever men from good

Plain-English Meaning

The words devoid of profit or pleasure which a man speaks will, being inconsistent with virtue,

பயனற்ற, பண்பும் இல்லாத சொற்களை ஒருவன் பலரிடமும் சொன்னால் அச் சொற்களே அவனை நீதியுடன் சேராமல் நற்குணங்களிலிருந்து நீக்கிவிடும்.

Chapter 20

பயனில சொல்லாமை

With silly words who insults all Is held in contempt as banal

Vain talk before many is worse Than doing to friends deeds adverse

The babbler's hasty lips proclaim That \"good-for-nothing\" is his name

Vain words before an assembly Will make all gains and goodness flee

Glory and grace will go away When savants silly nonsense say

Call him a human chaff who prides Himself in weightless idle words

Let not men of worth vainly quack Even if they would roughly speak

The wise who weigh the worth refrain From words that have no grain and brain

The wise of spotless self-vision Slip not to silly words-mention

To purpose speak the fruitful word And never indulge in useless load