Thirukkural 849 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

காணாதான் காட்டுவான் தான்காணான் காணாதான்
கண்டானாம் தான்கண்ட வாறு.

Transliteration

Kaanaadhaan Kaattuvaan Thaankaanaan Kaanaadhaan
Kantaanaam Thaankanta Vaaru

English Translation

“Sans Self-sight in vain one opens Sight To the blind who bet their sight as right”

Plain-English meaning

One who would teach a fool will (simply) betray his folly; and the fool would (still) think himself "wise in his own conceit"

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

Sans Self-sight in vain one opens Sight To the blind who bet their sight as right

G.U. Pope Translation

That man is blind to eyes that will not see who knowledge shows;-The blind man still in his blind fashion knows

Plain-English Meaning

One who would teach a fool will (simply) betray his folly; and the fool would (still) think himself "wise in his own conceit"

அறிவற்றவனுக்கு அறிவு காட்ட முயல்பவன் அறிவற்றவனால் அறிவற்றவனாய் எண்ணப்படுவான்; அறிவற்றவன் தான் அறிந்ததே அறிவாக எண்ணுவான்.

Chapter 85

புல்லறிவாண்மை

Want of wisdom is want of wants Want of aught else the world nev'r counts

When fool bestows with glee a gift It comes but by getter's merit

The self-torments of fools exceed Ev'n tortures of their foes indeed

Stupidity is vanity That cries \"We have sagacity\"

Feigning knowledge that one has not Leads to doubt ev'n that he has got

Fools their nakedness conceal And yet their glaring faults reveal

The fool that slights sacred counsels Upon himself great harm entails

He listens not nor himself knows Plague is his life until it goes

Sans Self-sight in vain one opens Sight To the blind who bet their sight as right

To people's \"Yes\" who proffer \"No\" Deemed as ghouls on earth they go