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

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The learned are said to have eyes, but the unlearned have (merely) two sores in their face

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

The learned are said to have eyes, but the unlearned have (merely) two sores in their face

கற்றவரே கண் உடையவர்; கல்லாதவரோ முகத்தில் இரண்டு புண்ணையே உடையவர்.

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