Thirukkural 683 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நூலாருள் நூல்வல்லன் ஆகுதல் வேலாருள்
வென்றி வினையுரைப்பான் பண்பு.
Transliteration
Noolaarul Noolvallan Aakudhal Velaarul
Vendri Vinaiyuraippaan Panpu
Modern English
“A successful envoy must understand politics and be deeply learned in the matters they discuss.”
Modern Interpretation
A successful envoy must understand politics and be deeply learned in the matters they discuss. Someone negotiating a school partnership should know both the rules and the interests involved.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A successful envoy must understand politics and be deeply learned in the matters they discuss.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Savant among savants, he pleads Before lanced king, triumphant words
G.U. Pope Translation
Mighty in lore amongst the learned must he be,Midst jav'lin-bearing kings who speaks the words of victory
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
To be powerful in politics among those who are learned (in ethics) is the character of him who speaks
Tamil commentary
அனைத்து அரசியல் அறத்தை, நீதி நூல்களை அறிந்தவர்களுக்குள்ளே அதிகம் அறிந்தவனாய் ஆவது, ஆயுதபலம் கொண்ட பகை அரசரிடையே, தன் நாட்டுக்கு நலம் தேடிச் செல்லும் தூதரின் பண்பாகும்.
Chapter 69
More from The Envoy
தூது
Love, noble birth, good courtesy Pleasing kings mark true embassy
Kural 682Envoys must bear love for their prince Knowledge and learned eloquence
Kural 683Savant among savants, he pleads Before lanced king, triumphant words
Kural 684Who has these three: good form, sense, lore Can act as bold ambassador
Kural 685Not harsh, the envoy's winsome ways Does good by pleasant words concise
Kural 686Learned; fearless, the envoy tends Convincing words which time demands
Kural 687Knowing duty time and place The envoy employs mature phrase
Kural 688The true envoy of three virtues Is pure helpful and bold in views
Kural 689The envoy who ports the king's message Has flawless words and heart's courage
Kural 690Braving death the bold envoy Assures his king's safety and joy