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Kural #404

Wealth· பொருள்Ignorance· கல்லாமை

Last reviewed:

Tamil text

கல்லாதான் ஒட்பம் கழியநன்று ஆயினும்

கொள்ளார் அறிவுடை யார்

Kallātāṉ oṭpam kaḻiyanaṉṟu āyiṉum

Koḷḷār aṟivuṭai yār

English translation

Even if an unlearned person's opinion seems excellent, the wise will not accept it.

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Explanation

Sometimes an ignorant person may accidentally say something correct, but wise people will not rely on it because it lacks a foundation of knowledge. True wisdom requires consistent learning, not occasional luck.

விளக்கம்

கல்லாதவன் கூறும் கருத்து மிக நன்றாக இருந்தாலும், அதை அறிவுடையோர் ஏற்க மாட்டார்கள். ஏனென்றால், கல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில் சொல்லப்பட்டது போல், கல்வி இல்லாத அறிவு நிலையற்றது. கல்வி கற்றவரின் கருத்தே சிறந்தது.

Word meanings

  • கல்லாதான்kallātāṉone who has not learned
  • ஒட்பம்oṭpamopinion/intelligence
  • கழியkaḻiyaexceedingly
  • நன்றுnaṉṟugood
  • ஆயினும்āyiṉumeven if
  • கொள்ளார்koḷḷārwill not accept
  • அறிவுடையார்aṟivuṭaiyārthose who have wisdom

Story behind this kural

In a bustling village, a farmer named Arul found a glistening stone. He declared it a "Sun Stone," claiming it could bring endless harvests. Many villagers, impressed by its shine, eagerly followed his farming advice. Their fields, however, yielded meager crops. Across the village, a wise merchant, Kumar, observed this. Kumar, a man of extensive knowledge in agriculture, had studied the land for years. When Arul offered his "Sun Stone" advice, Kumar politely declined. He explained that successful farming was rooted in understanding soil, weather, and seeds – not shiny stones. Kumar continued to share his learned methods. Slowly, villagers started following his advice. Their fields flourished, producing bountiful harvests. The "Sun Stone" was soon forgotten, its initial allure replaced by the tangible rewards of true understanding and diligent practice.