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Tirukkural-On Virtue-Avoiding Idle Talk-Kural 195

By Staff

Thirukkural In English, Kural 195
Seermai cirappoadu neengum, payanila
Neermai yudaiyaar solin.

The translation below is based on K Srinivasan's:

If a man of worth indulges in purposeless speech,Excellence and fame will depart from him.

If ordinary people themselves stand to lose by idle and purposeless talk, what more for the worthy men of the world? The implication, however, is that such great men will not indulge in idle talk. An expression juxtaposing the two words 'Seer' and 'Sirapu' occurs in Agananuru:

'Sirappum seerum inri"

The word 'Seer' denotes, one's natural and cultivated excellence, while 'Sirapu' refers to the fame that one acquires on that and other incidental developments.

Story first published: Monday, June 1, 2009, 10:15 [IST]
Read more about: idle talk thirukural