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
Modern English
“Knowledge gives your words a firm foundation; speaking without it is like playing a game without a board.”
Modern Interpretation
Knowledge gives your words a firm foundation; speaking without it is like playing a game without a board. For example, joining a class debate without reading the material leaves you guessing when others ask questions.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Knowledge gives your words a firm foundation; speaking without it is like playing a game without a board.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
To speak in an assembly (of the learned) without fullness of knowledge, is like playing at chess (on a board) without squares
Tamil commentary
அறிவு வளர்ச்சிக்கு ஏற்ற நூல்களைக் கல்லாதவர், கற்றவர் அவையில் பேசுவது, கட்டம் போடாமல் தாயம் உருட்டுவது போலாம்.
Chapter 41
More from Ignorance
கல்லாமை
Like play of chess on squareless board Vain is imperfect loreless word
Kural 402Unlearned man aspiring speech Is breastless lady's love-approach
Kural 403Ev'n unread men are good and wise If before the wise, they hold their peace
Kural 404The unread's wit though excellent Is not valued by the savant
Kural 405A man untaught when speech he vaunts Sadly fails before savants
Kural 406People speak of untaught minds \"They just exist like barren lands\"
Kural 407Like painted clay-doll is his show Grand subtle lore who fails to know
Kural 408Wealth in the hand of fools is worse Than a learned man's empty purse
Kural 409Lower are fools of higher birth Than low-born men of learning's worth
Kural 410Like beasts before men, dunces are Before scholars of shining lore