Thirukkural 706 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அடுத்தது காட்டும் பளிங்குபோல் நெஞ்சம்
கடுத்தது காட்டும் முகம்.
Transliteration
Atuththadhu Kaattum Palingupol Nenjam
Katuththadhu Kaattum Mukam
Modern English
“Like a clear mirror, the face often reveals what is strongest in a person's mind.”
Modern Interpretation
Like a clear mirror, the face often reveals what is strongest in a person's mind. Someone nervous about a presentation may show it through tense expressions before saying a word.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Like a clear mirror, the face often reveals what is strongest in a person's mind.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
What throbs in mind the face reflects Just as mirror nearby objects
G.U. Pope Translation
As forms around in crystal mirrored clear we find,The face will show what's throbbing in the mind
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
As the mirror reflects what is near so does the face show what is uppermost in the mind
Tamil commentary
தன் அருகே இருக்கும் பொருளின் நிறத்தைக் காட்டும் பளிங்கினைப்போல் ஒருவனது மனத்தே நிகழ்வதை அவன் முகம் காட்டும்.
Chapter 71
More from The Knowledge of Indications
குறிப்பறிதல்
Who reads the mind by look, untold Adorns the changeless sea-girt world
Kural 702Take him as God who reads the thought Of another man with without a doubt
Kural 703By sign who scans the sign admit At any cost in cabinet
Kural 704Untold, he who divines the thought Though same in form is quite apart
Kural 705Among senses what for is eye If thought by thought one can't descry?
Kural 706What throbs in mind the face reflects Just as mirror nearby objects
Kural 707Than face what is subtler to tell First if the mind feels well or ill
Kural 708Just standing in front would suffice For those who read the mind on face
Kural 709Friend or foe the eyes will show To those who changing outlooks know
Kural 710The scale of keen discerning minds Is eye and eye that secrets finds