Kural #418
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
கேட்பினும் கேளாத் தகையவே
கேள்வியால் தோட்கப் படாத செவி
Kēṭpiṉum kēḷāt takaiyavē
Kēḷviyāl tōṭkap paṭāta cevi
English translation
Ears that have not been pierced by learning are as good as deaf, even though they hear.
Listen
Explanation
Just as ears need to be pierced to wear ornaments, ears need to be "pierced" by wisdom to be truly useful. Ears that merely hear sounds but never absorb knowledge are effectively deaf.
விளக்கம்
கேள்வி அதிகாரத்தில், காதுகள் கற்றலால் துளைக்கப்படாவிட்டால் கேட்காத காதுகளே. வெறும் சப்தம் கேட்பது பயனில்லை; அறிவு பெறாத காதுகள் செவிடே. நல்ல விஷயங்களைக் கேட்டு அறிவை வளர்த்துக்கொள்.
Word meanings
- கேட்பினும்kēṭpiṉumeven though hearing
- கேளாதkēḷātanot hearing
- தகையவேtakaiyavēare like
- கேள்வியால்kēḷviyālby learning
- தோட்கப்படாதtōṭkappaṭātanot pierced
- செவிceviear
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Both had keen ears and sharp eyes, capable of noticing the smallest details. Arun spent his days listening to the elders, absorbing their tales and wisdom. He learned the songs of the birds, the rustle of the leaves, and the rhythms of the seasons. Bala, however, was content to simply hear. He’d chuckle at jokes, hum along to tunes, but never truly listen to understand. He’d hear the elders speak of planting, but never learn the soil's secrets. When the rains came, Arun knew when to sow, while Bala watched his seeds wash away. Arun’s harvest flourished, feeding his family. Bala’s remained meager, leaving him with an empty stomach. Though both heard the same sounds, only one truly listened, and only one truly prospered.