Thirukkural 391 in English

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

Tamil original

கற்க கசடறக் கற்பவை கற்றபின்
நிற்க அதற்குத் தக.

Transliteration

Karka Kasatarak Karpavai Katrapin
Nirka Adharkuth Thaka

English Translation

“Lore worth learning, learn flawlessly Live by that learning thoroughly”

Plain-English meaning

Let a man learn thoroughly whatever he may learn, and let his conduct be worthy of his learning

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

Lore worth learning, learn flawlessly Live by that learning thoroughly

G.U. Pope Translation

So learn that you may full and faultless learning gain,Then in obedience meet to lessons learnt remain

Plain-English Meaning

Let a man learn thoroughly whatever he may learn, and let his conduct be worthy of his learning

கற்கத் தகும் நூல்களைப் பிழை இல்லாமல் கற்க; கற்ற பிறகு கற்ற கல்விக்கு ஏற்ப நல்ல வழிகளில் வாழ்க.

Chapter 40

கல்வி

Lore worth learning, learn flawlessly Live by that learning thoroughly

Letter, number, art and science Of living kind both are the eyes

The learned alone have eyes on face The ignorant two sores of disgrace

To meet with joy and part with thought Of learned men this is the art

Like poor before rich they yearn: For knowledge: the low never learn

As deep you dig the sand spring flows As deep you learn the knowledge grows

All lands and towns are learner's own Why not till death learning go on!

The joy of learning in one birth Exalts man upto his seventh

The learned foster learning more On seeing the world enjoy their lore

Learning is wealth none could destroy Nothing else gives genuine joy