பயனற்ற சொற்களையே பலகாலமும் சொல்பவனை மனிதன் என வேண்டா; மனிதருள் பதர் என்றே சொல்லுங்கள்.

பயனற்றவைகளைச் சொல்லிப் பயன்பெற நினைப்பவனை, மனிதன் என்பதைவிட அவன் ஒரு பதர் என்பதே பொருத்தமானதாகும்

பயனில்லாத சொற்களைப் பலமுறையும் சொல்லுகின்ற ஒருவனை மனிதன் என்று சொல்லக்கூடாது, மக்களுள் பதர் என்று சொல்லவேண்டும்.

Call not him a man who parades forth his empty words Call him the chaff of men

Kural 196 emphasizes the importance of meaningful and purposeful speech. It states that a person who consistently speaks empty, useless words should not be considered a 'man'. Instead, they should be regarded as the 'chaff of men', which implies they are disposable or insignificant. The metaphor used here, 'chaff of men', refers to the husk or the unwanted part of the grain that is discarded during the process of threshing. In this context, it symbolizes people who contribute nothing of value through their words, just like the chaff contributes nothing of nutritional value to the grain. The verse implies that speech should not be used merely to flaunt one's eloquence or knowledge. Instead, it should serve a purpose, convey a meaningful message, or carry some form of utility for the listener. Those who speak without purpose or consideration are seen as lacking in wisdom and maturity. This Kural, thus, promotes thoughtful and purposeful communication and condemns the misuse of speech for unnecessary verbosity or self-promotion. It highlights the Tamil cultural value of purposeful speech and the negative view of those who speak without offering any valuable insights or contributions.