Thirukkural 420 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
செவியிற் சுவையுணரா வாயுணர்வின் மாக்கள்
அவியினும் வாழினும் என்?
Transliteration
Seviyir Suvaiyunaraa Vaayunarvin Maakkal
Aviyinum Vaazhinum En?
Modern English
“A life devoted only to physical pleasures, while ignoring meaningful ideas, misses much of what makes life worthwhile.”
Modern Interpretation
A life devoted only to physical pleasures, while ignoring meaningful ideas, misses much of what makes life worthwhile. For example, someone who spends every free moment on food and entertainment may never make time for a conversation that broadens the mind.
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Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
A life devoted only to physical pleasures, while ignoring meaningful ideas, misses much of what makes life worthwhile.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who taste by mouth and not by ear What if they fare ill or well here?
G.U. Pope Translation
His mouth can taste, but ear no taste of joy can give!What matter if he die, or prosperous live
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
What does it matter whether those men live or die, who can judge of tastes by the mouth, and not by the ear ?
Tamil commentary
செவியால் நுகரப்படும் சுவைகளை உணராமல், வாயால் அறியப்படும் சுவைகளை மட்டுமே அறியும் மனிதர் இருந்தால் என்ன? இறந்தால்தான் என்ன?
Chapter 42
More from Hearing
கேள்வி
Wealth of wealths is listening's wealth It is the best of wealths on earth
Kural 412Some food for the stomach is brought When the ear gets no food for thought
Kural 413Whose ears get lots of wisdom-food Equal gods on oblations fed
Kural 414Though not learned, hear and heed That serves a staff and stay in need
Kural 415Virtuous men's wisdom is found A strong staff on slippery ground
Kural 416Lend ear to good words however few That much will highly exalt you
Kural 417Who listen well and learn sharply Not ev'n by slip speak foolishly
Kural 418That ear though hearing is dulled Which is not by wisdom drilled
Kural 419A modest mouth is hard for those Who care little to counsels wise
Kural 420Who taste by mouth and not by ear What if they fare ill or well here?