Kural #424
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
எண்பொருள வாகச் செலச்சொல்லித்
தான்பிறர்வாய் நுண்பொருள் காண்ப தறிவு
Eṇporuḷa vākac celaccollitt
Tāṉpiṟarvāy nuṇporuḷ kāṇpa taṟivu
English translation
Wisdom is speaking so that simple ideas reach others easily, while discerning subtle meanings from others' words.
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Explanation
A wise person possesses dual communication skills: they can simplify complex ideas when teaching, yet grasp subtle nuances when listening. This balance of clarity in expression and depth in comprehension defines true intelligence.
விளக்கம்
எளிய கருத்து பிறர்க்குப் புரியும்படி சொல்லணும். பிறர் சொல்லும் நுட்பமான கருத்தைப் புரிஞ்சிக்கணும். இதுதான் அறிவுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில் சொல்லப்படும் அறிவு. தெளிவாப் பேசி, கூர்மையாப் புரிஞ்சிக்கிறது நல்லது.
Word meanings
- எண்eṇsimple/easy
- பொருளporuḷaas meaning
- ஆகākaso that
- செலcelareaching
- சொல்லிcollispeaking
- தான்tāṉoneself
- பிறர்வாய்piṟarvāyfrom others' mouths
- நுண்பொருள்nuṇporuḷsubtle meaning
- காண்பதுkāṇpatudiscerning
- அறிவுaṟivuwisdom
Story behind this kural
The village elder, Silas, was known for his wise pronouncements. Once, a young merchant, Elara, sought his counsel. "My words fail to persuade," she lamented. "Customers misunderstand my goods." Silas listened patiently, then offered a riddle. "I am a river, yet I hold no water. I am a tree, yet bear no leaves. Solve me, and you'll find your answer." Elara pondered, confused. Silas then explained, "The river is the flow of your speech, the tree, your ideas. If the flow is muddy, the ideas hidden, none will understand." Later, a farmer, Thomas, sought Silas, complaining of a neighbor's deceit. Silas listened intently, pausing frequently. "What words did he use?" he inquired. He then gently questioned Thomas's interpretation, pointing out subtle implications Thomas had missed. Elara, observing, understood. She began explaining her goods with simple clarity, using analogies everyone grasped. She also learned to listen more closely, understanding not just words, but their hidden meanings. Her business flourished.