Thirukkural 197 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நயனில சொல்லினுஞ் சொல்லுக சான்றோர்
பயனில சொல்லாமை நன்று.
Transliteration
Nayanila Sollinunj Cholluka Saandror
Payanila Sollaamai Nandru
Modern English
“It's fine, sometimes even necessary, to say something blunt or unwelcome if it needs to be said.”
Modern Interpretation
It's fine, sometimes even necessary, to say something blunt or unwelcome if it needs to be said. But it's always better to hold back from saying things that simply don't matter at all. For example, telling a friend an honest but uncomfortable truth is worthwhile; rambling about unrelated gossip in the same conversation adds nothing and should be left out.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
It's fine, sometimes even necessary, to say something blunt or unwelcome if it needs to be said.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Let not men of worth vainly quack Even if they would roughly speak
G.U. Pope Translation
Let those who list speak things that no delight afford,'Tis good for men of worth to speak no idle word
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Let the wise if they will, speak things without excellence; it will be well for them not to speak useless things
Tamil commentary
நீதியற்ற சொற்களைச் சொன்னாலும் பயனற்ற சொற்களைச் சொல்லாமல் இருப்பது சான்றோர்க்கு நல்லது.
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