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Kural 650

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iṇarūḻttu nāṟā malaraṉaiyar kaṟṟa / tuṇara viritturaiyā tār.

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“Like scentless flower in blooming garland bound / Are men who can't their lore acquired to other's ears expound.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“Behold the men who cannot expound unto others the knowledge that they have acquired: they are like unto the flower that blossometh but giveth forth no fragrance.”

Modern readingAI draft

Those unable to unfold what they learned so another can understand are like clustered blossoms that give no fragrance.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

கற்றது உணர விரித்து உரையாதார்= கற்றுவைத்த நூலைப் பிறரறியும் வண்ணம் விரித்துரைக்க மாட்டாதவர்; இணர் ஊழ்த்தும் நாறா மலர் அனையர்= கொத்தின்கண்ணே மலர்ந்து வைத்தும் நாறாத பூவை ஒப்பர்.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Those who cannot clearly articulate what they have learned so that others understand are like a lush cluster of flowers that emits no fragrance.