Thirukkural 846 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அற்றம் மறைத்தலோ புல்லறிவு தம்வயின்
குற்றம் மறையா வழி.
Transliteration
Atram Maraiththalo Pullarivu Thamvayin
Kutram Maraiyaa Vazhi
Modern English
“It is foolish to hide your outward faults while refusing to correct the faults that cause real harm.”
Modern Interpretation
It is foolish to hide your outward faults while refusing to correct the faults that cause real harm. Editing a perfect apology or public image means little if you keep repeating the same behavior.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
It is foolish to hide your outward faults while refusing to correct the faults that cause real harm.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Fools their nakedness conceal And yet their glaring faults reveal
G.U. Pope Translation
Fools are they who their nakedness conceal,And yet their faults unveiled reveal
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Even to cover one's nakedness would be folly, if (one's) faults were not covered (by forsaking them)
Tamil commentary
தம்மிடம் உள்ள குற்றத்தை அறிந்து அதைப் போக்காதவர், ஆடையால் தம்உடம்பை மறைக்கக் கருதுவதும் அறிவின்மையே.
Chapter 85
More from Ignorance
புல்லறிவாண்மை
Want of wisdom is want of wants Want of aught else the world nev'r counts
Kural 842When fool bestows with glee a gift It comes but by getter's merit
Kural 843The self-torments of fools exceed Ev'n tortures of their foes indeed
Kural 844Stupidity is vanity That cries \"We have sagacity\"
Kural 845Feigning knowledge that one has not Leads to doubt ev'n that he has got
Kural 846Fools their nakedness conceal And yet their glaring faults reveal
Kural 847The fool that slights sacred counsels Upon himself great harm entails
Kural 848He listens not nor himself knows Plague is his life until it goes
Kural 849Sans Self-sight in vain one opens Sight To the blind who bet their sight as right
Kural 850To people's \"Yes\" who proffer \"No\" Deemed as ghouls on earth they go