குறள் 391
கற்க கசடறக் கற்பவை கற்றபின்
நிற்க அதற்குத் தக.
Stanza 391
Learn well what should be learnt, and then
Live your learning.
Meaning:
Let a man learn thoroughly whatever he may learn, and let his conduct be worthy of his learning.
குறள் 392
எண்ணென்ப ஏனை எழுத்தென்ப இவ்விரண்டும்
கண்ணென்ப வாழும் உயிர்க்கு.
Stanza 392
Those called figures and letters the wise declare,
Are eyes to live with?
Meaning:
Letters and the numbers are the two eyes of man.
குறள் 393
கண்ணுடையர் என்பவர் கற்றோர் முகத்திரண்டு
புண்ணுடையர் கல்லா தவர்.
Stanza 393
Only the learned have eyes – others
Two sores on their face!
Meaning:
It is the part of the learned to give joy to those whom they meet, and on leaving, to make them think, “Oh, when shall we meet them again!”
குறள் 394
உவப்பத் தலைக்கூடி உள்ளப் பிரிதல்
அனைத்தே புலவர் தொழில்.
Stanza 394
It is pleasure to meet a scholar,
A pain to part with him.
Meaning:
They unlearned are inferior to the learned, before whom they stand begging, as the destitute before the wealthy.
குறள் 421
அறிவற்றங் காக்குங் கருவி செறுவார்க்கும்
உள்ளழிக்க லாகா அரண்.
Stanza 421
Wisdom is a weapon of defence
An inner fortress no foe can raze.
Meaning:
Wisdom is a weapon to ward off destruction; it is an innder fortress which enemies cannot destroy.
Transliteration
421 Arivatrang Kaakkung Karuvi Seruvaarkkum
Ullazhikka Laakaa Aran.
குறள் 422
சென்ற இடத்தால் செலவிடா தீதொரீஇ
நன்றின்பால் உய்ப்ப தறிவு.
Stanza 422
Wisdom checkes the wandering mind
And pulls it from ill to good.
Meaning:
Not to permit (the mind) to go where it lists, to keep it from evil, and to employ it in good, this is wisdom.
Transliteration
Sendra Itaththaal Selavitaa Theedhoreei
Nandrinpaal Uyppa Tharivu.
குறள் 423
எப்பொருள் யார்யார்வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்ப தறிவு.
Stanza 423
Wisdom grasps the truth
Of whatever and whomever said.
Meaning:
To discern the truth is everything, by whom so ever spoken, this is wisdom.
Transliteration
Epporul Yaaryaarvaaik Ketpinum Apporul
Meypporul Kaanpa Tharivu.
குறள் 424
எண்பொருள வாகச் செலச்சொல்லித் தான்பிறர்வாய்
நுண்பொருள் காண்ப தறிவு.
Stanza 424
Wisdom simplifies its subtlety to others
And other’s subtlety to itself.
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Meaning:
To speak so that the meaning may easily enter (the mind of the hearer), and to discern the subtlest thought (which may lie hidden) in the words of others; this si wisdom.
Transliteration
Enporula Vaakach Chelachchollith Thaanpirarvaai
Nunporul Kaanpa Tharivu.
குறள் 425
உலகம் தழீஇய தொட்பம் மலர்தலும்
கூம்பலும் இல்ல தறிவு.
Stanza 425
Prudence goes with the world, but wisdom
Is not a water-flower, now open, now shut.
Meaning:
To secure the friendship of the great is the true wisdom; it is (also) wisdom to keep (that friendship unchanged, and) not opening and closing (like the lotus-flower).
Transliteration
Ulakam Thazheeiya Thotpam Malardhalum
Koompalum Illa Tharivu.
குறள் 426
எவ்வ துறைவது உலகம் உலகத்தோடு
அவ்வ துறைவ தறிவு.
Stanza 426
As the world goes, so with the world to go
Is wise.
Meaning:
To live as the world lives,this is wisdom.
Transliteration
Evva Thuraivadhu Ulakam Ulakaththotu
Avva Thuraiva Tharivu.