Thirukkural 403 in English

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

Tamil original

கல்லா தவரும் நனிநல்லர் கற்றார்முன்
சொல்லா திருக்கப் பெறின்.

Transliteration

Kallaa Thavarum Naninallar Katraarmun
Sollaa Thirukkap Perin

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The unlearned also are very excellent men, if they know how to keep silence before the learned

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

The blockheads, too, may men of worth appear,If they can keep from speaking where the learned hear

Plain-English Meaning

The unlearned also are very excellent men, if they know how to keep silence before the learned

கற்றவர் அவையில் பேசாதிருந்தால் படிக்காதவரும் மிகநல்லவரே.

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