Kural #710
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
நுண்ணியம் என்பார் அளக்குங்கோல்
காணுங்கால் கண்ணல்லது இல்லை பிற
Nuṇṇiyam eṉpār aḷakkuṅkōl
Kāṇuṅkāl kaṇṇallatu illai piṟa
English translation
For those who claim to be perceptive, the measuring rod when examined is nothing but the eyes.
Listen
Explanation
For those who claim subtlety (நுண்ணியம் என்பார்), the ultimate measuring tool (அளக்கும் கோல்) is the eyes. No other instrument (இல்லை பிற) matches eyes for reading people.
விளக்கம்
குறிப்பறிதலில் வல்லவர் கண்களை வைத்தே உணர்வர். நுட்பமாக கணிக்கும் கருவி கண்களே. பிறர் மனதை அறிய கண்களே சிறந்த வழி. முகத்தில் தெரியும் குறிப்பை உணர வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- நுண்ணியம்nuṇṇiyamsubtle/perceptive
- என்பார்eṉpārthose who say
- அளக்கும்aḷakkummeasuring
- கோல்kōlrod/instrument
- காணுங்கால்kāṇuṅkālwhen examined
- கண்kaṇeyes
- அல்லதுallatuother than
- இல்லைillaithere is not
- பிறpiṟaothers
Story behind this kural
The wise old merchant, Thiru, was known throughout the village for his sharp dealings. He prided himself on his ability to assess a person’s worth with a single glance. One day, a young farmer, Arul, came to sell his harvest. Thiru, eyeing the simple clothes and calloused hands, offered a meager price. Arul, though young, looked at Thiru with steady eyes, then calmly surveyed the merchant’s opulent shop, the overflowing sacks of grain, and the well-fed assistants. Without a word, Arul shook his head and began to leave. Intrigued, Thiru called him back. “Why do you refuse my offer?” he asked. Arul simply replied, “Your eyes, merchant, tell me all I need to know.” He then named a price, fair to both. Thiru, surprised, agreed. As Arul departed, Thiru understood that true discernment came not from outward appearances, but from the depths of observation.