Thirukkural 408 in English

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

Tamil original

நல்லார்கண் பட்ட வறுமையின் இன்னாதே
கல்லார்கண் பட் ட திரு.

Transliteration

Nallaarkan Patta Varumaiyin Innaadhe
Kallaarkan Patta Thiru

English Translation

“Wealth in the hand of fools is worse Than a learned man's empty purse”

Plain-English meaning

Wealth, gained by the unlearned, will give more sorrow than the poverty which may come upon the learned

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Wealth in the hand of fools is worse Than a learned man's empty purse

G.U. Pope Translation

To men unlearned, from fortune's favour greater-evil springsThan poverty to men of goodly wisdom brings

Plain-English Meaning

Wealth, gained by the unlearned, will give more sorrow than the poverty which may come upon the learned

படிக்காதவரிடம் இருக்கும் செல்வம், நல்லவரிடம் இருக்கும் வறுமையைக் காட்டிலும் கொடியது.

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