Kural #417
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
பிழைத்துணர்ந்தும் பேதைமை சொல்லார்
இழைத்துணர்ந்து ஈண்டிய கேள்வி யவர்
Piḻaittuṇarntum pētaimai sollār
Iḻaittuṇarntu īṇṭiya kēḷvi yavar
English translation
Those who have accumulated deep learning will not speak foolishly even if they understand something wrongly.
Listen
Explanation
Well-read people maintain dignity even when they err. Their extensive learning gives them the wisdom to express even incorrect understanding in a refined manner, avoiding foolish speech.
விளக்கம்
கேள்வி அதிகாரத்தில், ஆழமான அறிவுடையோர் தவறுதலாகப் புரிந்தாலும் முட்டாள்தனமாகப் பேசமாட்டார்கள். அவர்கள் கற்ற கல்வியே தவறான கருத்தையும் பண்பாக வெளிப்படுத்த உதவும். அறிவைச் சேர்ப்பது பேச்சில் நிதானத்தைக் கொடுக்கும்.
Word meanings
- பிழைத்துpiḻaittuwrongly/mistakenly
- உணர்ந்தும்uṇarntumeven if understood
- பேதைமைpētaimaifoolishness
- சொல்லார்sollārwill not speak
- இழைத்துiḻaittuwoven/carefully
- உணர்ந்துuṇarntuunderstood
- ஈண்டியīṇṭiyaaccumulated
- கேள்வியவர்kēḷviyavarthose with learning
Story behind this kural
The village elder, Thulasi, known for his wisdom, gathered the townsfolk. A heated debate raged. Farmer Arul, misinterpreting a celestial event, declared a famine was imminent. Fear rippled through the crowd. Young Selvi, a student of the traveling sage, cautiously raised her hand. "Arul, I believe the stars' alignment you observed is not as dire as you think. The texts I studied suggest…" Before she could finish, a boisterous merchant, furious at the potential market disruption, interrupted. "Nonsense! These scholars know nothing of real life!" He then loudly proclaimed his own, even more alarming, prediction. Thulasi, observing the scene, calmly addressed the crowd. "Arul, your concern is understandable. Selvi, your insights are valued. Merchant, your passion is clear." He then explained the astronomical phenomenon with measured tones, clarifying the misunderstanding. He acknowledged the diverse perspectives, and offered a balanced view. The crowd, reassured, dispersed, their anxieties calmed.