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

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The learning of him who is diffident before an assembly is like the shining sword of an hermaphrodite in the presence of his foes

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

The learning of him who is diffident before an assembly is like the shining sword of an hermaphrodite in the presence of his foes

கற்றவர் கூடிய அவையில் பேசப் பயப்படுபவன் கற்ற நூல், பகைமுன்னே நடுங்கும் பேடியின் கையில் இருக்கும் வாளுக்குச் சமம்.

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