Kural #641
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
நாநலம் என்னும் நலனுடைமை
அந்நலம் யாநலத்து உள்ளதூஉம் அன்று
Nānalam eṉṉum nalaṉuṭaimai
Annalam yānlattu uḷḷatūum aṉṟu
English translation
The gift of eloquent speech is a treasure that is not found among any other treasures.
Listen
Explanation
Thiruvalluvar opens this chapter by declaring நாநலம் (excellence of tongue/eloquence) as a unique treasure. Unlike material wealth, the gift of persuasive speech stands in a class of its own.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 641: சொல்வன்மை என்னும் அதிகாரத்தில், நாவின் திறமையே சிறந்த செல்வம். அது மற்ற செல்வங்களை விட உயர்ந்தது. நல்ல பேச்சு பிறரை வசீகரிக்கும்; வாழ்வில் வெற்றி தரும்.
Word meanings
- நாnātongue
- நலம்nalamexcellence/goodness
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
- நலன்nalaṉbenefit/treasure
- உடைமைuṭaimaipossession
- அந்நலம்annalamthat treasure
- யாyāwhich/any
- உள்ளதூஉம்uḷḷatūumis included
- அன்றுaṉṟunot
Story behind this kural
In a bustling marketplace, a shrewd merchant named Silas displayed his wares. His silks shimmered, his spices perfumed the air, yet his sales lagged. Across the square, a humble storyteller, Elara, drew a crowd with tales of faraway lands. Silas, envious, watched as villagers eagerly exchanged coins for Elara's words. He tried imitating her, hawking his silks with grand pronouncements, but his voice lacked the magic. The crowd remained unmoved. One day, a dispute arose between two farmers over a boundary. Silas, eager to profit, offered his silks to the winner. Elara, however, stepped forward. With gentle words, she painted a picture of shared fields, of neighborly kindness, and of the joy of cooperation. The farmers, moved by her plea, embraced and settled their differences. Silas, watching, finally understood. His silks remained unsold, but Elara's words had woven a richer tapestry than any he could create.