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

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

Let the wise if they will, speak things without excellence; it will be well for them not to speak useless things

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

Let the wise if they will, speak things without excellence; it will be well for them not to speak useless things

நீதியற்ற சொற்களைச் சொன்னாலும் பயனற்ற சொற்களைச் சொல்லாமல் இருப்பது சான்றோர்க்கு நல்லது.

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