The Kural
All chapters › Wealth (பொருட்பால்) › Chapter 41
கல்லாமை
Kurals 401–410 of the Thirukkural, in the book of Wealth (பொருட்பால்).
அரங்கின்றி வட்டாடி யற்றே நிரம்பிய
நூலின்றிக் கோட்டி கொளல்.
Like those at draughts would play without the chequered square,
Men void of ample lore would counsels of the learned share.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Speaking among experts without real knowledge is like playing chess on a board with no squares.
Open in the appகல்லாதான் சொற்கா முறுதல் முலையிரண்டும்
இல்லாதாள் பெண்காமுற் றற்று.
Like those who doat on hoyden's undeveloped charms are they,
Of learning void, who eagerly their power of words display.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: An unlearned person itching to hold forth among the learned is wanting something they have no means for.
Open in the appகல்லா தவரும் நனிநல்லர் கற்றார்முன்
சொல்லா திருக்கப் பெறின்.
The blockheads, too, may men of worth appear,
If they can keep from speaking where the learned hear!
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Even people without learning come across well if they know when to stay quiet around experts.
Open in the appகல்லாதான் ஒட்பம் கழியநன் றாயினும்
கொள்ளார் அறிவுடை யார்.
From blockheads' lips, when words of wisdom glibly flow,
The wise receive them not, though good they seem to show.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: However clever an unlearned person may be naturally, the wise won't count it as real knowledge.
Open in the appகல்லா ஒருவன் தகைமை தலைப்பெய்து
சொல்லாடச் சோர்வு படும்.
As worthless shows the worth of man unlearned,
When council meets, by words he speaks discerned.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: An unlearned person's arrogance vanishes the moment they open their mouth among the learned.
Open in the appஉளரென்னும் மாத்திரையர் அல்லால் பயவாக்
களரனையர் கல்லா தவர்.
'They are': so much is true of men untaught;
But, like a barren field, they yield us nought!
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: People who never learn are like barren land: all you can say is that they exist.
Open in the appநுண்மாண் நுழைபுலம் இல்லான் எழில்நலம்
மண்மாண் புனைபாவை யற்று.
Who lack the power of subtle, large, and penetrating sense,
Like puppet, decked with ornaments of clay, their beauty's vain pretence.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Good looks without real learning are like a painted clay doll.
Open in the appநல்லார்கண் பட்ட வறுமையின் இன்னாதே
கல்லார்கண் பட் ட திரு.
To men unlearned, from fortune's favour greater-evil springs
Than poverty to men of goodly wisdom brings.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Money in the hands of the unlearned brings more grief than poverty does to the learned.
Open in the appமேற்பிறந்தா ராயினும் கல்லாதார் கீழ்ப்பிறந்தும்
கற்றார் அனைத்திலர் பாடு.
Lower are men unlearned, though noble be their race,
Than low-born men adorned with learning's grace.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Birth doesn't decide your worth: an educated person from a humble family outranks an uneducated one from a grand family.
Open in the appவிலங்கொடு மக்கள் அனையர் இலங்குநூல்
கற்றாரோடு ஏனை யவர்.
Learning's irradiating grace who gain,
Others excel, as men the bestial train.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Compared with people steeped in great books, others are like animals beside humans.
Open in the app