Thirukkural 730 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உளரெனினும் இல்லாரொடு ஒப்பர் களன்அஞ்சிக்
கற்ற செலச்சொல்லா தார்.
Transliteration
Ulareninum Illaarotu Oppar Kalananjik
Katra Selachchollaa Thaar
Modern English
“Someone who cannot share what they know meaningfully, because they fear the audience, is alive but contributes as little as the dead.”
Modern Interpretation
Someone who cannot share what they know meaningfully, because they fear the audience, is alive but contributes as little as the dead. A team member with the right solution adds nothing if they never speak up.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Someone who cannot share what they know meaningfully, because they fear the audience, is alive but contributes as little as the dead.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
They are breathing dead who dare not Empress before the wise their art
G.U. Pope Translation
Who what they've learned, in penetrating words know not to say,The council fearing, though they live, as dead are they
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those who through fear of the assembly are unable to set forth their learning in an interesting manner, though alive, are yet like the dead
Tamil commentary
அவையைப் பார்த்துப் பயந்து, படித்தவற்றை அவைக்கு ஏற்பச் சொல்லத் தெரியாதவர், வாழ்ந்தாலும் வாழாதவர்க்குச் சமமே.
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