Thirukkural 200 in English

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

Tamil original

சொல்லுக சொல்லிற் பயனுடைய சொல்லற்க
சொல்லிற் பயனிலாச் சொல்.

Transliteration

Solluka Sollir Payanutaiya Sollarka
Sollir Payanilaach Chol

English Translation

“To purpose speak the fruitful word And never indulge in useless load”

Plain-English meaning

Speak what is useful, and speak not useless words

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

To purpose speak the fruitful word And never indulge in useless load

G.U. Pope Translation

If speak you will, speak words that fruit afford,If speak you will, speak never fruitless word

Plain-English Meaning

Speak what is useful, and speak not useless words

சொற்களில் அறம், பொருள், இன்பம் ஆகிய பயன்தரும் சொற்களையே சொல்லுக; பயனற்ற சொற்களைச் சொல்லவேண்டா.

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