Thirukkural 705 in English

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

Tamil original

குறிப்பிற் குறிப்புணரா வாயின் உறுப்பினுள்
என்ன பயத்தவோ கண்?

Transliteration

Kurippir Kurippunaraa Vaayin Uruppinul
Enna Payaththavo Kan?

English Translation

“Among senses what for is eye If thought by thought one can't descry?”

Plain-English meaning

Of what use are the eyes amongst one's members, if they cannot by their own indications dive those of another ?

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Among senses what for is eye If thought by thought one can't descry?

G.U. Pope Translation

By sign who knows not sings to comprehend, what gain,'Mid all his members, from his eyes does he obtain

Plain-English Meaning

Of what use are the eyes amongst one's members, if they cannot by their own indications dive those of another ?

ஒருவன் குறிப்பைக் கண்ட பின்பும் அவன் மனக்கருத்தை அறியமுடியவில்லை என்றால், உறுப்புகளுள் சிறந்த கண்களால் என்ன நன்மை?

Chapter 71

குறிப்பறிதல்

Who reads the mind by look, untold Adorns the changeless sea-girt world

Take him as God who reads the thought Of another man with without a doubt

By sign who scans the sign admit At any cost in cabinet

Untold, he who divines the thought Though same in form is quite apart

Among senses what for is eye If thought by thought one can't descry?

What throbs in mind the face reflects Just as mirror nearby objects

Than face what is subtler to tell First if the mind feels well or ill

Just standing in front would suffice For those who read the mind on face

Friend or foe the eyes will show To those who changing outlooks know

The scale of keen discerning minds Is eye and eye that secrets finds