Kural #427
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Tamil text
அறிவுடையார் ஆவ தறிவார்
அறிவிலார் அஃதறி கல்லா தவர்
Aṟivuṭaiyār āva taṟivār
Aṟivilār aḵtaṟi kallā tavar
English translation
The wise know what will happen; the foolish are those who cannot know that.
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Explanation
Wisdom includes foresight - the ability to predict consequences. Intelligent people anticipate outcomes while the foolish cannot see beyond the immediate present.
விளக்கம்
அறிவுடையோர் எதிர்காலத்தில் நடக்கப்போவதை முன்னரே அறிவர். அறிவில்லாதவர்கள் அதை அறியமாட்டார்கள். "அறிவுடைமை" அதிகாரத்தில், தொலைநோக்குப் பார்வையே அறிவின் முக்கியம் என்கிறது குறள்.
Word meanings
- அறிவுடையார்aṟivuṭaiyārthose with wisdom
- ஆவதுāvatuwhat will happen
- அறிவார்aṟivārwill know
- அறிவிலார்aṟivilārthe unwise
- அஃதுaḵtuthat
- அறிகல்லாதவர்aṟikallātavarthose who cannot know
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria prepared for winter. Farmer Giles, wise and weathered, noticed the early migration of the swallows and the unusually thick fur on his sheep. He doubled his firewood collection and reinforced his roof. Young Thomas, however, scoffed. "Old man, you worry too much! The sun still shines, and the market is full of goods. Why waste time on such things?" He spent his days feasting and celebrating, convinced winter was a distant fancy. When the blizzard arrived, Giles's home was warm, his family fed, and his stores plentiful. Thomas, caught unprepared, huddled with his family in a crumbling shack, shivering and hungry. He watched Giles, understanding dawned on him as he looked out at the storm. Giles shared his stores, but Thomas never forgot the lesson.