Thirukkural 401 in English

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

Tamil original

அரங்கின்றி வட்டாடி யற்றே நிரம்பிய
நூலின்றிக் கோட்டி கொளல்.

Transliteration

Arangindri Vattaati Yatre Nirampiya
Noolindrik Kotti Kolal

English Translation

“Like play of chess on squareless board Vain is imperfect loreless word”

Plain-English meaning

To speak in an assembly (of the learned) without fullness of knowledge, is like playing at chess (on a board) without squares

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Like play of chess on squareless board Vain is imperfect loreless word

G.U. Pope Translation

Like those at draughts would play without the chequered square,Men void of ample lore would counsels of the learned share

Plain-English Meaning

To speak in an assembly (of the learned) without fullness of knowledge, is like playing at chess (on a board) without squares

அறிவு வளர்ச்சிக்கு ஏற்ற நூல்களைக் கல்லாதவர், கற்றவர் அவையில் பேசுவது, கட்டம் போடாமல் தாயம் உருட்டுவது போலாம்.

Chapter 41

கல்லாமை

Like play of chess on squareless board Vain is imperfect loreless word

Unlearned man aspiring speech Is breastless lady's love-approach

Ev'n unread men are good and wise If before the wise, they hold their peace

The unread's wit though excellent Is not valued by the savant

A man untaught when speech he vaunts Sadly fails before savants

People speak of untaught minds \"They just exist like barren lands\"

Like painted clay-doll is his show Grand subtle lore who fails to know

Wealth in the hand of fools is worse Than a learned man's empty purse

Lower are fools of higher birth Than low-born men of learning's worth

Like beasts before men, dunces are Before scholars of shining lore