Thirukkural 834 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஓதி உணர்ந்தும் பிறர்க்குரைத்தும் தானடங்காப்
பேதையின் பேதையார் இல்.
Transliteration
Odhi Unarndhum Pirarkkuraiththum Thaanatangaap
Pedhaiyin Pedhaiyaar Il
Modern English
“No one is more foolish than a person who studies good principles, teaches them to others, and then refuses to live by them.”
Modern Interpretation
No one is more foolish than a person who studies good principles, teaches them to others, and then refuses to live by them. A student who lectures classmates about honesty while cheating has learned words, not wisdom.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
No one is more foolish than a person who studies good principles, teaches them to others, and then refuses to live by them.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
No fool equals the fool who learns Knows, teaches, but self-control spurns
G.U. Pope Translation
The sacred law he reads and learns, to other men expounds,-Himself obeys not; where can greater fool be found
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
There are no greater fools than he who, though he has read and understood (a great deal) and even taught it to others, does not walk according to his own teaching
Tamil commentary
படித்தும், படித்தவற்றை உணர்ந்தும், மற்றவர்க்குச் சொல்லியும், அவற்றின்படி வாழாதவரைக் காட்டிலும் அறிவற்றவர் வேறு இல்லை.
Chapter 84
More from Folly
பேதைமை
This is folly's prominent vein To favour loss and forego gain
Kural 832Folly of follies is to lead A lewd and lawless life so bad
Kural 833Shameless, aimless, callous, listless Such are the marks of foolishness
Kural 834No fool equals the fool who learns Knows, teaches, but self-control spurns
Kural 835The fool suffers seven fold hells In single birth of hellish ills
Kural 836A know-nothing fool daring a deed Not only fails but feels fettered
Kural 837Strangers feast and kinsmen fast When fools mishandle fortunes vast
Kural 838Fools possessing something on hand Like dazed and drunken stupids stand
Kural 839Friendship with fools is highly sweet For without a groan we part
Kural 840Entrance of fools where Savants meet Looks like couch trod by unclean feet