Thirukkural 407 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நுண்மாண் நுழைபுலம் இல்லான் எழில்நலம்
மண்மாண் புனைபாவை யற்று.
Transliteration
Nunmaan Nuzhaipulam Illaan Ezhilnalam
Manmaan Punaipaavai Yatru
Modern English
“Good looks or a polished image mean little without the understanding to support them, like a beautifully painted clay figure.”
Modern Interpretation
Good looks or a polished image mean little without the understanding to support them, like a beautifully painted clay figure. For example, an impressive presentation is empty if its speaker cannot explain the basic facts behind it.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Good looks or a polished image mean little without the understanding to support them, like a beautifully painted clay figure.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Like painted clay-doll is his show Grand subtle lore who fails to know
G.U. Pope Translation
Who lack the power of subtle, large, and penetrating sense,Like puppet, decked with ornaments of clay, their beauty's vain pretence
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The beauty and goodness of one who is destitute of knowledge by the study of great and exquisite works, is like (the beauty and goodness) of a painted earthen doll
Tamil commentary
நுண்ணிய, சிறந்த பல நூல்களிலும் நுழைந்த அறிவு இல்லாதவனின் உடல் வளர்ச்சியும் அழகும், மண்ணால் சிறப்பாகச் செய்யப்பட்ட பொம்மையின் அழகு போன்றதாகும்.
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