Kural #650
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Tamil text
இணர்ஊழ்த்தும் நாறா மலரனையர்
கற்றது உணர விரித்துரையா தார்
Iṇarūḻttum nāṟā malaraṉaiyar
Kaṟṟatu uṇara viritturiyā tār
English translation
Those who cannot explain what they have learned are like clustered flowers that do not emit fragrance.
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Explanation
Learning without the ability to express it is like a beautiful flower without scent - incomplete. True scholars must be able to விரித்துரை (explain expansively) their knowledge.
விளக்கம்
கற்றதை மற்றவர் உணர விரிவாக சொல்லாவிட்டால், மணம் இல்லாத பூவைப் போல பயனில்லை. சொல்வன்மை அதிகாரத்தில், கற்றதை தெளிவாக விளக்கும் திறனே முக்கியம் என வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். அறிவை பகிர்ந்தாலே அது முழுமையாகும்.
Word meanings
- இணர்iṇarcluster
- ஊழ்த்தும்ūḻttumthough blooming
- நாறாnāṟānot fragrant
- மலர்malarflower
- அனையர்aṉaiyarlike
- கற்றதுkaṟṟatuwhat is learned
- உணரuṇarato understand
- விரித்துvirittuexpanding
- உரையாதார்uraiyātārthose who do not speak
Story behind this kural
The village elder, Thiru, possessed a vast library. He devoured scrolls daily, his mind a whirlwind of knowledge. Yet, when young Arul sought his wisdom on the nature of the stars, Thiru could only stammer. He pointed at his books, but the words failed him. Meanwhile, Maya, a humble weaver, knew little of written lore. But when asked about her craft, she spun tales of threads and looms, explaining the dance of the shuttle and the magic of color with vibrant clarity. She spoke of patience, of mistakes corrected, and of the beauty in each imperfect weave. Villagers would gather, captivated, understanding the artistry of her work. Thiru, witnessing Maya’s simple eloquence, felt a pang. His shelves overflowed, but his thoughts remained locked within. He understood then that knowledge, unshared, remained a silent bloom, lacking the sweet fragrance of true understanding.