Thirukkural 929 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
களித்தானைக் காரணம் காட்டுதல் கீழ்நீர்க்
குளித்தானைத் தீத்துரீஇ அற்று.
Transliteration
Kaliththaanaik Kaaranam Kaattudhal Keezhneerk
Kuliththaanaith Theeththureei Atru
Modern English
“Reasoning with someone who is deeply drunk is as useless as searching underwater for a drowned person with a torch.”
Modern Interpretation
Reasoning with someone who is deeply drunk is as useless as searching underwater for a drowned person with a torch. For example, wait until a drunk friend is sober before discussing their dangerous choices.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Reasoning with someone who is deeply drunk is as useless as searching underwater for a drowned person with a torch.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Can torch search one in water sunk? Can reason reach the raving drunk?
G.U. Pope Translation
Like him who, lamp in hand, would seek one sunk beneath the waveIs he who strives to sober drunken man with reasonings grave
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Reasoning with a drunkard is like going under water with a torch in search of a drowned man
Tamil commentary
போதைப் பொருளைப் பயன்படுத்துபவனைத் திருத்தப் பல்வேறு காரணம் காட்டுவது நீருக்குள் மூழ்கி இருப்பவனைத் தீப்பந்தத்தால் தேடுவதுபோல் ஆகும்.
Chapter 93
More from Not Drinking Palm-Wine
கள்ளுண்ணாமை
Foes fear not who for toddy craze The addicts daily their glory lose
Kural 922Drink not liquor; but let them drink Whom with esteem the wise won't think
Kural 923The drunkard's joy pains ev'n mother's face How vile must it look for the wise?
Kural 924Good shame turns back from him ashamed Who is guilty of wine condemned
Kural 925To pay and drink and lose the sense Is nothing but rank ignorance
Kural 926They take poison who take toddy And doze ev'n like a dead body
Kural 927The secret drunkards' senses off Make the prying public laugh
Kural 928Don't say I'm not a drunkard hard The hidden fraud is known abroad
Kural 929Can torch search one in water sunk? Can reason reach the raving drunk?
Kural 930The sober seeing the drunkard's plight On selves can't they feel same effect?