Thirukkural 393 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கண்ணுடையர் என்பவர் கற்றோர் முகத்திரண்டு
புண்ணுடையர் கல்லா தவர்.
Transliteration
Kannutaiyar Enpavar Katror Mukaththirantu
Punnutaiyar Kallaa Thavar
Modern English
“Learning is described as giving people eyes because it helps them notice and understand what is around them.”
Modern Interpretation
Learning is described as giving people eyes because it helps them notice and understand what is around them. For example, a person who learns to question evidence can see through a misleading advertisement more easily.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Learning is described as giving people eyes because it helps them notice and understand what is around them.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The learned alone have eyes on face The ignorant two sores of disgrace
G.U. Pope Translation
Men who learning gain have eyes, men say;Blockheads' faces pairs of sores display
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The learned are said to have eyes, but the unlearned have (merely) two sores in their face
Tamil commentary
கற்றவரே கண் உடையவர்; கல்லாதவரோ முகத்தில் இரண்டு புண்ணையே உடையவர்.
Chapter 40
More from Learning
கல்வி
Lore worth learning, learn flawlessly Live by that learning thoroughly
Kural 392Letter, number, art and science Of living kind both are the eyes
Kural 393The learned alone have eyes on face The ignorant two sores of disgrace
Kural 394To meet with joy and part with thought Of learned men this is the art
Kural 395Like poor before rich they yearn: For knowledge: the low never learn
Kural 396As deep you dig the sand spring flows As deep you learn the knowledge grows
Kural 397All lands and towns are learner's own Why not till death learning go on!
Kural 398The joy of learning in one birth Exalts man upto his seventh
Kural 399The learned foster learning more On seeing the world enjoy their lore
Kural 400Learning is wealth none could destroy Nothing else gives genuine joy