Thirukkural 708 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
முகம்நோக்கி நிற்க அமையும் அகம்நோக்கி
உற்ற துணர்வார்ப் பெறின்.
Transliteration
Mukamnokki Nirka Amaiyum Akamnokki
Utra Thunarvaarp Perin
Modern English
“When someone truly understands your inner state, you may not need to explain everything; your expression can be enough.”
Modern Interpretation
When someone truly understands your inner state, you may not need to explain everything; your expression can be enough. A caring counselor may realize a student needs support from one glance and a quiet pause.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
When someone truly understands your inner state, you may not need to explain everything; your expression can be enough.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Just standing in front would suffice For those who read the mind on face
G.U. Pope Translation
To see the face is quite enough, in presence brought,When men can look within and know the lurking thought
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If the king gets those who by looking into his mind can understand (and remove) what has occurred (to him) it is enough that he stand looking at their face
Tamil commentary
தன் மனத்தைக் குறிப்பால் அறிந்து தான் எண்ணியதை அறிபவரைத் துணையாகப் பெற்றால், அவர்களின் முகத்தை அவன் பார்த்து நின்றாலே போதும்.
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