Thirukkural 726 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
வாளொடென் வன்கண்ணர் அல்லார்க்கு நூலொடென்
நுண்ணவை அஞ்சு பவர்க்கு.
Transliteration
Vaaloten Vankannar Allaarkku Nooloten
Nunnavai Anju Pavarkku
Modern English
“A weapon is useless in the hands of someone without courage, and learning is useless if fear keeps someone from speaking.”
Modern Interpretation
A weapon is useless in the hands of someone without courage, and learning is useless if fear keeps someone from speaking. A student may know the answer but gain no benefit from it by never raising a hand.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A weapon is useless in the hands of someone without courage, and learning is useless if fear keeps someone from speaking.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
To cowards what can sword avail And books to those who councils fail?
G.U. Pope Translation
To those who lack the hero's eye what can the sword availOr science what, to those before the council keen who quail
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
What have they to do with a sword who are not valiant, or they with learning who are afraid of an intelligent assembly ?
Tamil commentary
நெஞ்சுறுதி இல்லாதவர்க்கு வாளால் என்ன பயன்? அறிவுத்திறம் மிக்க அவைகண்டு பயப்படுபவர்க்குத் தர்க்க சாஸ்திர நூலால் பயன் என்ன?
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