Thirukkural 723 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பகையகத்துச் சாவார் எளியர் அரியர்
அவையகத்து அஞ்சா தவர்.
Transliteration
Pakaiyakaththuch Chaavaar Eliyar Ariyar
Avaiyakaththu Anjaa Thavar
Modern English
“Many people can face physical danger, but far fewer can speak without fear before an intelligent audience.”
Modern Interpretation
Many people can face physical danger, but far fewer can speak without fear before an intelligent audience. Asking a difficult question in a packed seminar can require more courage than staying silent.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Many people can face physical danger, but far fewer can speak without fear before an intelligent audience.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Many brave foes and die in fields The fearless few face wise councils
G.U. Pope Translation
Many encountering death in face of foe will hold their ground;Who speak undaunted in the council hall are rarely found
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Many indeed may (fearlessly) die in the presence of (their) foes; (but) few are those who are fearless in the assembly (of the learned)
Tamil commentary
பகைவர்களுக்கிடையே பயப்படாமல் புகுந்து சாவோர் பலர் உண்டு;பேசுவோர் சிலரேயாவார்.
Chapter 73
More from Not to dread the Council
அவை அஞ்சாமை
The pure fail not in power of words Knowing grand council's moods and modes
Kural 722Among scholars he is scholar Who holds scholars with learned lore
Kural 723Many brave foes and die in fields The fearless few face wise councils
Kural 724Impress the learned with your lore From greater savants learn still more
Kural 725Grammar and logic learn so that Foes you can boldly retort
Kural 726To cowards what can sword avail And books to those who councils fail?
Kural 727Like eunuch's sword in field, is vain His lore who fears men of brain
Kural 728Though learned much his lore is dead Who says no good before the good
Kural 729Who fear to face good assembly Are learned idiots, certainly
Kural 730They are breathing dead who dare not Empress before the wise their art