Kural #402
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Tamil text
கல்லாதான் சொற்கா முறுதல்
முலையிரண்டும் இல்லாதாள் பெண்காமுற் றற்று
Kallātāṉ soṟkā muṟutal
Mulaiyiraṇṭum illātāḷ peṇkāmuṟ ṟaṟṟu
English translation
An unlearned person desiring to speak in an assembly is like a woman without breasts desiring to be considered feminine.
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Explanation
This kural uses a strong analogy to show that just as certain physical attributes define womanhood, learning defines a scholar. An uneducated person wanting to speak authoritatively lacks the essential qualification to do so.
விளக்கம்
கல்லாதவன் பேசுவது, முலையற்ற பெண் பெண்மை விரும்பும் வீண் ஆசை. கல்வி இல்லாவிட்டால், சபையில் பேசும் தகுதி இல்லை. கல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கல்வி முக்கியம் என்பதை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- கல்லாதான்kallātāṉone who has not learned
- சொல்solspeech/word
- காமுறுதல்kāmuṟutaldesiring
- முலைmulaibreast
- இரண்டும்iraṇṭumboth
- இல்லாதாள்illātāḷshe who does not have
- பெண்peṇwoman
- காமுற்றுkāmuṟṟudesiring
- அற்றுaṟṟuis like
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest lived a baker named Thiru. Though kind, Thiru knew little beyond bread-making. One day, the village elder announced a contest: the wisest speaker would advise the king on a matter of trade. Thiru, emboldened by a boastful friend, decided to enter. He spent the days before the contest practicing grand pronouncements, words he barely understood. On the day, he strode confidently before the king. When his turn came, he began, his voice booming. But the words tumbled out, nonsensical and disjointed, like a cart with a broken wheel. The villagers whispered, some giggling. The king, though patient, looked bewildered. Finally, Thiru, flustered, stammered to a halt. He retreated, shame burning his cheeks. The village elder, a man of few words but much wisdom, then spoke, his counsel clear and thoughtful. The king listened intently, nodding in agreement. The baker returned to his oven, the smell of baking bread a comfort, and found a renewed appreciation for his craft.