Thirukkural 400 in English

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

Tamil original

கேடில் விழுச்செல்வம் கல்வி யொருவற்கு
மாடல்ல மற்றை யவை.

Transliteration

Ketil Vizhuchchelvam Kalvi Yoruvarku
Maatalla Matrai Yavai

English Translation

“Learning is wealth none could destroy Nothing else gives genuine joy”

Plain-English meaning

Learning is the true imperishable riches; all other things are not riches

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Learning is wealth none could destroy Nothing else gives genuine joy

G.U. Pope Translation

Learning is excellence of wealth that none destroy;To man nought else affords reality of joy

Plain-English Meaning

Learning is the true imperishable riches; all other things are not riches

கல்வியே அழிவு இல்லாத சிறந்த செல்வம்; பிற எல்லாம் செல்வமே அல்ல.

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