Kural #412
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Tamil text
செவிக்குண வில்லாத போழ்து
சிறிது வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப் படும்
Cevikkuṇa villāta pōḻtu
Ciṟitu vayiṟṟukkum īyap paṭum
English translation
When there is no food for the ear, give even a little food to the stomach.
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Explanation
The ear's hunger for knowledge is more important than the stomach's hunger for food. Only when one cannot feed the mind with learning should they attend to feeding the body. Intellectual nourishment takes priority.
விளக்கம்
கேள்வி என்னும் அதிகாரத்தில், காதுக்கு உணவு அறிவே. அறிவு கிடைக்காதபோது, வயிற்றுக்கு கொஞ்சமாவது உணவு கொடுக்கலாம். முதலில் அறிவுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் கொடு, பின்பு உடலுக்கு. அறிவே சிறந்த செல்வம்.
Word meanings
- செவிக்குcevikkufor the ear
- உணவுuṇavufood
- இல்லாதillātawhen there is no
- போழ்துpōḻtutime/when
- சிறிதுciṟitua little
- வயிற்றுக்கும்vayiṟṟukkumeven to the stomach
- ஈயப்படும்īyappaṭummay be given
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun loved to listen to the traveling scholars, eager to learn about the world. Bala, however, was always hungry. One day, a scholar arrived, sharing tales of distant lands and wise sayings. Arun, despite his empty stomach, listened with rapt attention. Bala, grumbling, left to scavenge for scraps. He found a meager handful of berries, enough to silence his immediate hunger. Arun, meanwhile, learned of the stars and the secrets of the earth. He learned of courage and kindness. Though his stomach rumbled, he felt a deeper satisfaction. Later, a famine struck the village. The berries Bala had eaten were soon gone, and he was left with nothing. Arun, remembering the scholar’s lessons, used his newfound knowledge to help his neighbors. He devised a simple irrigation system, saving the village crops. Bala, though fed in the short term, was left with empty hands and a hungry heart.