Kural #416
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
எனைத்தானும் நல்லவை கேட்க
அனைத்தானும் ஆன்ற பெருமை தரும்
Eṉaittāṉum nallavai kēṭka
Aṉaittāṉum āṉṟa perumai tarum
English translation
Listen to good things, however little; even that little will bring proportionate greatness.
Listen
Explanation
Every bit of good knowledge counts. Even small amounts of wisdom, when listened to carefully, will yield corresponding benefits. There is no such thing as too little learning.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 416: கொஞ்சம் நல்ல விஷயங்களைக் கேட்டாலும், அதுக்கேற்ற பெருமை கிடைக்கும். கேள்வி அதிகாரத்தில், நல்ல விஷயங்களைக் கேட்பதால் அறிவு பெருகும். சிறிய அறிவும் பெரிய நன்மை தரும்.
Word meanings
- எனைத்தானும்eṉaittāṉumhowever little
- நல்லவைnallavaigood things
- கேட்கkēṭkalisten
- அனைத்தானும்aṉaittāṉumto that extent
- ஆன்றāṉṟamature/complete
- பெருமைperumaigreatness
- தரும்tarumwill give
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a young shepherd named Arul. He tended his flock, but his mind often wandered. Unlike the other shepherds, who spent their days in idle chatter, Arul would often sit near the wise old woman of the village, listening intently as she spoke of the stars, the seasons, and the ways of the world. Some villagers scoffed, saying her words were but a drop in a vast ocean. “What good is a little knowledge?” they’d jeer. Yet, Arul persisted. He absorbed every word, every story, every observation. One harsh winter, a fierce blizzard struck. The other shepherds panicked, their sheep scattered and lost. But Arul, remembering the old woman's teachings about the wind and the snow, led his flock to a sheltered valley. He used his knowledge of the stars to navigate, ensuring his sheep's survival. The other shepherds, humbled, realized the value of even the smallest bit of wisdom.