THE TIRUKKURAL OF TIRUVALLUVAR

SECTION - 65 -

VERSES 641 TO 650
    
  âòèùªôäªéë     Persuasion
 
åèåù몠  öäªÄ몠  åùäªãéìéë   íåÐåù몠    641
áèåùêÐÊ   ãóªó­ã몠  íäª×
 
åèåù몠   öäªÄ몠      known as the gift of speech
åù䪠      is beneficial
ãéìéë       possession (wealth)
íåÐåù몠      that gift
áèåùêÐÊ       of all gifts
ãóªó­ã몠      is encompassed
íäª×       not
 
Among   the   different   talents   one   may   possess   the   gift   of  persuasive   speech   stands   apart   (641).    
ÍæÐæË몠  îæÌ몠  íêäèùª   ôÕêùèùª       642
æèêÐîêèëªçùª   âòèùªù¨äªæúª   îòèõв
 
ÍæÐæË몠      wealth
îæÌ몠      ruin
íêäèùª       through that (speech)
ôÕêùèùª       arises
æèêÐîêèëªçùª       (one should ) be careful with
âòèùªù¨äªæúª       in speech
îòèõв       any defect
 
Speech   can   bring   both   prosperity   and   ruin;   hence   one   should not   use   words   carelessly   (642).    
îæìªìèõÐ窠  ç¨ú¨æÐÆ몠  êéæíôèáªæР  îæóèÕ몠     643
îôìªç   âëèȨôêè몠  âòèùª
 
îæìªìèõР      those who listen
ç¨ú¨æÐÆ몠      drawing towards one
êéæíôè᪠      of the nature of
îæóèÕ몠      even those who do not
îôìªç       want to listen
âëèȨôêè몠    speaking (in a manner that)
âòèùª       is true speech
 
Words   should   draw   together   those   who   listen   and   even  those   who   do   not   (643).    
ê¨÷䪠  í÷¨åÐÊ   âòèùªÙæ   âòèùªéù   í÷Ä몠      644
âçèÕÓ몠  íêä¨äªÃ§ªÆ   ¬ùª
 
ê¨÷䪠      capacity (of the listener)
í÷¨åÐÊ       knowing
âòèùªÙæ       speak
âòèùªéù       words
í÷Ä몠      righteousness
âçèÕÓ몠      wealth
íêä¨äª    çªÆ       more than that
¬ùª       not
 
Use   words   that   match   the   capacity   of   the   listener.   No   other   virtue or   wealth     can   accomplish   more   (644).    
âòèùªÙæ   âòèùªéù窠  ç¨÷¨îêèõÐâòèùª   íòÐâòèùªéù   645
âôùªÙëªâòèùª   ¬äªéë   í÷¨åÐÊ
 
âòèùªÙæ       speak
âòèùªéù       words
ç¨÷¨Ê    ØõР  âòèùª       any other(word)
íòÐâòèùªéù       those words
âôùªÙ몠   âòèùª       override
¬äªéë       do not
í÷¨åÐÊ       considering
 
One   must   speak   only   after   considering   possible counter   arguments   (645).    
îôìªçêÐêè몠  âòèùªù¨çª   ç¨÷õÐâòè÷ª   çáäªîæèìùª    646
ëèìªò¨á¨äª   ëèò÷ª÷èõР  îæèóª
 
îôìªç       (in a way) that appeals to others
êè몠   âòèùªù¨       while one speaks
ç¨÷õР   âòè÷ª       other's words
çá䪠      the benefit
îæèìùª       seeking
ëèìªò¨á¨äª       of fine
ëèà   í÷ª÷èõР      faultless persons
îæèóª       principle
 
Not   only   must   one   speak   in   a   way   that   appeals   to   others, but   one   must   also   seek   benefit   in   the   words   of   others   (646).    
âòèùùªôùªù䪠  îòèõÐô¨ù䪠  í¢ªòè䪠  íôéä      647
¬æùªâôùªùùª   áèõÐæÐÆ몠  íõ¨Ê
 
âòèùùªôùªù䪠      speaking in a convincing manner
îòèõÐô¨ù䪠      without faulty memory
í¢ªòè䪠      fearless
íôéä       him
¬æùª    âôùªùùª       conquering in wit
áèõÐæÐÆ몠      for anyone
íõ¨Ê       impossible
 
He   who   is   alert,   fearless   and   convincing   cannot   be  defeated   in   debate   (647).    
ô¨éõåÐÊ   âêèȨùªîæìªÆ몠  ¢èù몠  å¨õåÐê¨ä¨Ê     648
âòèùªÙêùª   ôùªùèõÐ窠  âç÷¨äª
 
ô¨éõåÐÊ       will flock
âêèȨùª    îæìªÆ몠      seek his services
¢èù몠      the world
å¨õåÐÊ       cogently
¬ä¨Ê       sweetly
âòèùªÙêùª       speak
ôùªùèõÐçªâç÷¨äª       persons of such type
 
The   world   will   flock   to   one   who   expresses   himself   cogently  and   sweetly,   seeking   his   services   (648).    
çùâòèùªùæР  æèË×ôõР  ëäª÷   ëèàí÷ª÷        649
ò¨ùâòèùªùùª   îê÷ª÷è   êôõÐ
 
çùâòèùªù       (using) many words
æèË×ôõР      would be desirous of
ëäª÷       convincingly
ëèàí÷ª÷       faultlessly
ò¨ùâòèùªùùª       (to express in) a few words
îê÷ª÷èêôõР      those who do not know
 
Those   who   cannot   express   themselves   clearly   in   a   few   words, will   desire   to   speak   at   great   length   (649).
   
¬úõÐÃȪêÐÊ몠  åè÷è   ëùõР  íéäáõР  æ÷ª÷Ê       650
ãúõ   ô¨õ¨êÐÊéõáè   êèõÐ
 
¬úõР      in a bunch
ÃȪêÐÊ몠      having blossomed
åè÷è       without fragrance
ëùõР      flower
íéäáõР      like
æ÷ª÷Ê       what has been learnt (by those)
ãúõ       in an intelligible way to others
ô¨õ¨êÐÊ       explanatory
ãéõáèêèõР      those who do not expound

Those   who   are   of   great   learning,   but   cannot   explain   anything  to   others   in   a   simple   manner,   are   like   a   bunch   of   flowers   with   no fragrance   (650).
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