Tirukkural Chapter 72 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 72 - அவை அறிதல்
CHAPTER 72 - KNOWING ASSEMBLY.
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72/04. ஒளியார்முன் ஒள்ளியர் ஆதல்; வெளியார்முன்
வான்சுதை வண்ணம் கொளல்

72/04. Olliyaarmun olliyar aadhal; velliaarmun
Vaansudhai vannam kollal.

72/04. Before intelligent people be intelligent in your talk.
Before an assembly of illiterate people, be plain like white chalk.
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Aditya: Intelligent people will appreciate you
For your intelligent talk
But illiterate men will not enjoy
Your straight and plain talk.

Jagdish: An intelligent man knows
How to enjoy one's talk,
But an ordinary person knows
How to criticize one's talk.

So, talk in an assembly
Of intelligent people,
And not in an assembly
Of illiterate people.

If you're required to deal
With illiterate people
You must talk those words
What they can understand.
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72/05. நன்றென்ற வற்றுள்ளும் நன்றே முதுவருள்
முந்து கிளவாச் செறிவு.

72/05. Nandrnndra vatrrullum nandrre mudhuvarull
Mundhu killavaach chirrivu.

72/05. Before an assembly of men, wiser than a person,
Better he remains calm, instead of volunteering to talk.
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Aditya: One must not take risk in opening his mouth
before wiser persons than him.

Jagdish: One should study first.
Better, he keeps his mouth shut,
If people are wiser than him,
Rather than addressing them.

He must not be a laughing stock,
During his blabbering talk,
When he misquotes things,
Which make listeners vexing.

Once he learns a lesson,
He'll not take his turn,
Again on the stage to talk,
And out he'll simply walk.
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72/06. ஆற்றின் நிலைதளர்ந் தற்றே வியன்புலம்
ஏற்றுணர்வார் முன்னர் இழுக்கு.

72/06. Atrrin nilaithallarn dhartrea viyanpulam
Etrruvaar munnar izhukku.

72/06. In an august assembly where great literate men are watching,
if one tells a wrong thing, it is like an educated person falling into a ditch.
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Aditya: Half knowledge is always dangerous.
One must take a risk if he is not sure on the subject.

Jagdish: Before addressing an assembly,
One must have rehearsal thoroughly,
So that he may not commit mistakes,
Right before an elite audience.

It is like an educated man,
Falling into a ditch deep down,
When he talks on a subject,
With no substance in it.

When his talks miserably fail,
The audience may then feel,
Better he finishes his speech,
That's not attracting them much.
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