Not Speaking Useless Words
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pallār muṉiyap payaṉila solluvāṉ / ellārum eḷḷap paṭum
One who keeps speaking pointless words until the wise around him are sick of them is despised by everyone.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Words without sense, while chafe the wise, / Who babbles, him will all despise.”
“Behold the man that angereth the public by the speaking of vain words: he will be despised of all men.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பல்லார் முனியப் பயன் இல சொல்லுவான் = அறிவுடையார் பலரும் கேட்டு வெறுப்பப் பயன் இலவாகிய சொற்களைச் சொல்லுவான்; எல்லாரும் எள்ளப் படும் = எல்லாரானும் இகழப் படும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A person who keeps speaking useless words until many wise listeners grow disgusted is despised by everyone.