Thirukkural 199 in English

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

Tamil original

பொருள்தீர்ந்த பொச்சாந்துஞ் சொல்லார் மருள்தீர்ந்த
மாசறு காட்சி யவர்.

Transliteration

Poruldheerndha Pochchaandhunj Chollaar Maruldheerndha
Maasaru Kaatchi Yavar

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

Those wise men who are without faults and are freed from ignorance will not even forgetfully speak things that profit not

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

The men of vision pure, from wildering folly free,Not e'en in thoughtless hour, speak words of vanity

Plain-English Meaning

Those wise men who are without faults and are freed from ignorance will not even forgetfully speak things that profit not

மயக்கமற்ற தூய அறிவினை உடையவர், பொருளற்ற சொற்களை மறந்தும் சொல்லார்.

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