Thirukkural 196 in English

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

Tamil original

பயனில்சொல் பாராட்டு வானை மகன்எனல்
மக்கட் பதடி யெனல்.

Transliteration

Payanil Sol Paaraattu Vaanai
Makanenal Makkat Padhati Yenal

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

Call not him a man who parades forth his empty words Call him the chaff of men

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Who makes display of idle words' inanity,Call him not man, -chaff of humanity

Plain-English Meaning

Call not him a man who parades forth his empty words Call him the chaff of men

பயனற்ற சொற்களையே பலகாலமும் சொல்பவனை மனிதன் என வேண்டா; மனிதருள் பதர் என்றே சொல்லுங்கள்.

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