Thirukkural 405 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கல்லா ஒருவன் தகைமை தலைப்பெய்து
சொல்லாடச் சோர்வு படும்.
Transliteration
Kallaa Oruvan Thakaimai Thalaippeydhu
Sollaatach Chorvu Patum
Modern English
“Pretending to know more than you do usually falls apart when real questions begin; honest humility is stronger.”
Modern Interpretation
Pretending to know more than you do usually falls apart when real questions begin; honest humility is stronger. For example, someone who bluffs through an interview may be exposed as soon as the interviewer asks for details.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Pretending to know more than you do usually falls apart when real questions begin; honest humility is stronger.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
A man untaught when speech he vaunts Sadly fails before savants
G.U. Pope Translation
As worthless shows the worth of man unlearned,When council meets, by words he speaks discerned
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The self-conceit of an unlearned man will fade away, as soon as he speaks in an assembly (of
Tamil commentary
படித்தவர் முன் பேசினால் படிக்காதவரின் பெருமை குறைந்து போகும்.
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