Thirukkural 710 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நுண்ணியம் என்பார் அளக்குங்கோல் காணுங்கால்
கண்ணல்லது இல்லை பிற.
Transliteration
Nunniyam Enpaar Alakkungol Kaanungaal
Kannalladhu Illai Pira
Modern English
“For people who claim to understand subtle thoughts, the eyes are the measuring tool they rely on.”
Modern Interpretation
For people who claim to understand subtle thoughts, the eyes are the measuring tool they rely on. An experienced interviewer may notice a candidate's eye movement and expression while listening, without treating one glance as proof.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
For people who claim to understand subtle thoughts, the eyes are the measuring tool they rely on.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The scale of keen discerning minds Is eye and eye that secrets finds
G.U. Pope Translation
The men of keen discerning soul no other test apply(When you their secret ask) than man's revealing eye
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The measuring-rod of those (ministers) who say "we are acute" will on inquiry be found to be their (own) eyes and nothing else
Tamil commentary
நாங்கள் நுண் அறிவை உடையவர்கள் என்று கூறிக்கொள்பவர், பிறர் மனக்கருத்தை அளந்து அறியப் பயன்படுத்தும் அளவு கருவி எது என்று ஆய்ந்து பார்த்தால் அது கண்ணே அன்றி வேறு இல்லை.
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