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

English Translation

“To cowards what can sword avail And books to those who councils fail?”

Plain-English meaning

What have they to do with a sword who are not valiant, or they with learning who are afraid of an intelligent assembly ?

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

What have they to do with a sword who are not valiant, or they with learning who are afraid of an intelligent assembly ?

நெஞ்சுறுதி இல்லாதவர்க்கு வாளால் என்ன பயன்? அறிவுத்திறம் மிக்க அவைகண்டு பயப்படுபவர்க்குத் தர்க்க சாஸ்திர நூலால் பயன் என்ன?

Chapter 73

அவை அஞ்சாமை

The pure fail not in power of words Knowing grand council's moods and modes

Among scholars he is scholar Who holds scholars with learned lore

Many brave foes and die in fields The fearless few face wise councils

Impress the learned with your lore From greater savants learn still more

Grammar and logic learn so that Foes you can boldly retort

To cowards what can sword avail And books to those who councils fail?

Like eunuch's sword in field, is vain His lore who fears men of brain

Though learned much his lore is dead Who says no good before the good

Who fear to face good assembly Are learned idiots, certainly

They are breathing dead who dare not Empress before the wise their art