Kural #401
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Tamil text
அரங்கின்றி வட்டாடி யற்றே
நிரம்பிய நூலின்றிக் கோட்டி கொளல்
Araṅkiṉṟi vaṭṭāṭi yaṟṟē
Nirampiya nūliṉṟik kōṭṭi koḷal
English translation
Engaging in debate without thorough knowledge of scriptures is like playing dice without a proper board.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar compares an ignorant person attempting to debate with scholars to someone playing a game without the proper equipment. Just as dice need a board, arguments need solid learning as their foundation. Without proper education, one's arguments have no valid ground.
விளக்கம்
அரங்கில்லாமல் வட்டாடுவதைப் போல, முழுமையான கல்வி இல்லாமல் விவாதிப்பது பயனற்றது. கல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில், அறிவில்லாதவன் சபையில் பேசுவது நகைப்புக்குரியது என்கிறார் வள்ளுவர். கல்வி அறிவே வாதத்தின் அடிப்படை.
Word meanings
- அரங்குaraṅkuboard/arena
- இன்றிiṉṟiwithout
- வட்டுvaṭṭudice
- ஆடிāṭiplaying
- அற்றேaṟṟēis like
- நிரம்பியnirampiyacomplete/thorough
- நூல்nūlscriptures/texts
- கோட்டிkōṭṭidebate/assembly
- கொளல்koḷalengaging in
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, lived two young men, Silas and Thomas. Both desired to impress the elders with their wisdom. Silas, confident and quick-witted, often spoke first, eager to share his opinions on any subject. Thomas, however, preferred to listen and learn, spending his days studying ancient scrolls. One day, a dispute arose regarding the village water rights. Silas immediately stepped forward, passionately arguing his view, weaving words with flair, but lacking true understanding of the complex laws. Thomas, after a moment of thoughtful silence, began to speak. He carefully cited specific passages from the scrolls, referencing past judgments and demonstrating a thorough grasp of the matter. The villagers listened, captivated by the clarity and depth of Thomas's arguments. Silas, whose initial confidence had begun to falter, eventually fell silent. The elders, after deliberation, sided with Thomas, whose words, grounded in knowledge, proved to be the most persuasive.