Thirukkural 406 in English

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

Tamil original

உளரென்னும் மாத்திரையர் அல்லால் பயவாக்
களரனையர் கல்லா தவர்.

Transliteration

Ularennum Maaththiraiyar Allaal Payavaak
Kalaranaiyar Kallaa Thavar

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The unlearned are like worthless barren land: all that can be said of them is, that they exist

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

'They are': so much is true of men untaught;But, like a barren field, they yield us nought

Plain-English Meaning

The unlearned are like worthless barren land: all that can be said of them is, that they exist

படிக்காதவர் உடலால் இருப்பவர் என்று சொல்லும் அளவினரே அன்றி, எவர்க்கும் பயன்படாதவர், ஆதலால் விளைச்சல் தராத களர் நிலத்திற்கு ஒப்பாவர்.

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