Thirukkural 2 in English

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

Tamil original

கற்றதனால் ஆய பயனென்கொல் வாலறிவன்
நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின்.

Transliteration

Katradhanaal Aaya Payanenkol Vaalarivan
Natraal Thozhaaar Enin

English Translation

“That lore is vain which does not fall At His good feet who knoweth all”

Plain-English meaning

What Profit have those derived from learning, who worship not the good feet of Him who is possessed of pure knowledge ?

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

That lore is vain which does not fall At His good feet who knoweth all

G.U. Pope Translation

No fruit have men of all their studied lore,Save they the 'Purely Wise One's' feet adore

Plain-English Meaning

What Profit have those derived from learning, who worship not the good feet of Him who is possessed of pure knowledge ?

தூய அறிவு வடிவானவனின் திருவடிகளை வணங்காதவர், படித்ததனால் பெற்ற பயன்தான் என்ன?

Chapter 1

கடவுள் வாழ்த்து

'A' leads letters; the Ancient Lord Leads and lords the entire world

That lore is vain which does not fall At His good feet who knoweth all

Long they live on earth who gain The feet of God in florid brain

Who hold His feet who likes nor loathes Are free from woes of human births

God's praise who tell, are free from right And wrong, the twins of dreaming night

They prosper long who walk His way Who has the senses signed away

His feet, whose likeness none can find, Alone can ease the anxious mind

Who swims the sea of vice is he Who clasps the feet of Virtue's sea

Like senses stale that head is vain Which bows not to Eight-Virtued Divine

The sea of births they alone swim Who clench His feet and cleave to Him