Thirukkural 410 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
விலங்கொடு மக்கள் அனையர் இலங்குநூல்
கற்றாரோடு ஏனை யவர்.
Transliteration
Vilangotu Makkal Anaiyar Ilangunool
Katraarotu Enai Yavar
Modern English
“Learning helps people reason, understand one another, and choose their actions instead of merely reacting to instinct.”
Modern Interpretation
Learning helps people reason, understand one another, and choose their actions instead of merely reacting to instinct. For example, studying history can help a young person question a crowd and make a thoughtful choice.
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Modern Plain English
Learning helps people reason, understand one another, and choose their actions instead of merely reacting to instinct.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Like beasts before men, dunces are Before scholars of shining lore
G.U. Pope Translation
Learning's irradiating grace who gain,Others excel, as men the bestial train
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
As beasts by the side of men, so are other men by the side of those who are learned in celebrated works
Tamil commentary
விலங்கை நோக்க மக்கள் எவ்வளவு வேறுபட்டவரோ, சிறந்த நூலைக் கற்றவரை நோக்கக் கல்லாதவர் அவ்வளவு வேறுபட்டவர்.
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