Kural #405
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Tamil text
கல்லா ஒருவன் தகைமை
தலைப்பெய்து சொல்லாடச் சோர்வு படும்
Kallā oruvaṉ takaimai
Talaippeitu sollāṭac cōrvu paṭum
English translation
The pretended dignity of an unlearned person will collapse when they begin to speak.
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Explanation
An ignorant person may appear dignified in silence, but the moment they open their mouth to speak, their lack of education becomes apparent and their false dignity crumbles.
விளக்கம்
கல்லாதவன் பெருமை பேசத் தொடங்கினால் குறையும். பேசாமலிருந்தால் மதிப்பு இருக்கும். கல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கல்வி அறிவின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- கல்லாkallāunlearned
- ஒருவன்oruvaṉa person
- தகைமைtakaimaidignity/greatness
- தலைப்பெய்துtalaippeitubeginning
- சொல்லாடsollāṭato speak
- சோர்வுcōrvudecline/collapse
- படும்paṭumwill happen
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village square, a stranger arrived, adorned in fine silks and a stern expression. He carried himself with an air of importance, his silence drawing the villagers’ attention. Whispers spread: "A merchant from a distant land, surely!" The villagers, eager to impress, showered him with respect. They offered him the finest fruits and the softest pillows. The stranger accepted their offerings with a nod, maintaining his dignified silence. A farmer, emboldened by the attention, asked the stranger about the price of goods in his land. The stranger, caught off guard, stammered a response, mispronouncing common words and revealing a lack of knowledge. His grand facade began to crack. He fumbled and mixed up currencies. The villagers exchanged glances. The silks and silence meant nothing; the man was revealed to be a simpleton, not a merchant. His “dignity” had vanished with his first, ill-considered words. He quickly made his excuses and vanished, leaving behind only the echo of his foolish pronouncements.