Thirukkural 763 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒலித்தக்கால் என்னாம் உவரி எலிப்பகை
நாகம் உயிர்ப்பக் கெடும்.
Transliteration
Oliththakkaal Ennaam Uvari Ela�ppakai
Naakam Uyirppak Ketum
Modern English
“A loud crowd is not necessarily a strong one; many fearful people can be overcome by a smaller group with real courage and discipline.”
Modern Interpretation
A loud crowd is not necessarily a strong one; many fearful people can be overcome by a smaller group with real courage and discipline. Noise alone does not create power. For example, a large online campaign may achieve little when a small, well-prepared team calmly addresses the real issue.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A loud crowd is not necessarily a strong one; many fearful people can be overcome by a smaller group with real courage and discipline.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Sea-like ratfoes roar What if? They perish at a cobra's whiff
G.U. Pope Translation
Though, like the sea, the angry mice send forth their battle cry;What then? The dragon breathes upon them, and they die
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
What if (a host of) hostile rats roar like the sea ? They will perish at the mere breath of the cobra
Tamil commentary
பாம்பென நிற்கும் சிறுபடை முன் கடல் என வீரர்கள் திரண்டிருந்தாலும், திரண்டவர்கள் மனத்தால் எலியாக இருந்தால் என்ன ஆகும்? பாம்பு மூச்சு விட்ட அளவிலேயே எலிப்படை அத்தனையும் அழியும்.
Chapter 77
More from The Excellence of an Army
படை மாட்சி
The daring well-armed winning force Is king's treasure and main resource
Kural 762Through shots and wounds brave heroes hold Quailing not in fall, the field
Kural 763Sea-like ratfoes roar What if? They perish at a cobra's whiff
Kural 764The army guards its genial flame Not crushed, routed nor marred in name
Kural 765The real army with rallied force Resists even Death-God fierce
Kural 766Manly army has merits four:- Stately-march, faith, honour, valour
Kural 767Army sets on to face to foes Knowing how the trend of war goes
Kural 768Army gains force by grand array Lacking in stay or dash in fray
Kural 769Army shall win if it is free From weakness, aversion, poverty
Kural 770With troops in large numbers on rolls Army can't march missing gen'rals