Thirukkural 441 in English

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

Tamil original

அறனறிந்து மூத்த அறிவுடையார் கேண்மை
திறனறிந்து தேர்ந்து கொளல்.

Transliteration

Aranarindhu Mooththa Arivutaiyaar Kenmai
Thiranarindhu Therndhu Kolal

English Translation

“Weigh their worth and friendship gain Of men of virtue and mature brain”

Plain-English meaning

Let (a king) ponder well its value, and secure the friendship of men of virtue and of mature knowledge

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Weigh their worth and friendship gain Of men of virtue and mature brain

G.U. Pope Translation

As friends the men who virtue know, and riper wisdom share,Their worth weighed well, the king should choose with care

Plain-English Meaning

Let (a king) ponder well its value, and secure the friendship of men of virtue and of mature knowledge

அறத்தின் நுண்மையை அறிந்து, குறிப்பிட்ட துறையிலும் வளர்ந்த அறிவுடையவரின் நட்பை, அதன் அருமையையும், அதைப் பெறும் திறத்தையும் அறிந்து பெறுக.

Chapter 45

பெரியாரைத் துணைக்கோடல்

Weigh their worth and friendship gain Of men of virtue and mature brain

Cherish the help of men of skill Who ward and safe-guard you from ill

Honour and have the great your own Is rarest of the rare things known

To have betters as intimates Power of all powers promotes

Ministers are the monarch's eyes Round him should be the right and wise

To move with worthy friends who knows Has none to fear from frightful foes

No foe can foil his powers whose friends reprove him when he errs

The careless king whom none reproves Ruins himself sans harmful foes

No capital, no gain in trade No prop secure sans good comrade

To give up good friends is ten times worse Than being hated by countless foes