Thirukkural 727 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பகையகத்துப் பேடிகை ஒள்வாள் அவையகத்து
அஞ்சு மவன்கற்ற நூல்.
Transliteration
Pakaiyakaththup Petikai Olvaal Avaiyakaththu
Anju Mavankatra Nool
Modern English
“Knowledge kept silent before an audience is like a bright sword held by someone who will not face danger.”
Modern Interpretation
Knowledge kept silent before an audience is like a bright sword held by someone who will not face danger. A well-read employee who never shares a needed warning leaves the team unprotected.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Knowledge kept silent before an audience is like a bright sword held by someone who will not face danger.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Like eunuch's sword in field, is vain His lore who fears men of brain
G.U. Pope Translation
As shining sword before the foe which 'sexless being' bears,Is science learned by him the council's face who fears
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The learning of him who is diffident before an assembly is like the shining sword of an hermaphrodite in the presence of his foes
Tamil commentary
கற்றவர் கூடிய அவையில் பேசப் பயப்படுபவன் கற்ற நூல், பகைமுன்னே நடுங்கும் பேடியின் கையில் இருக்கும் வாளுக்குச் சமம்.
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