Kural #715
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Tamil text
நன்றென்ற வற்றுள்ளும் நன்றே
முதுவருள் முந்து கிளவாச் செறிவு
Naṉṟeṉṟa vaṟṟuḷḷum naṉṟē
Mutuvaruḷ muntu kiḷavāc ceṟivu
English translation
Among all good things, the best is the restraint of not speaking before learned elders.
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Explanation
The finest quality (நன்றென்ற வற்றுள்ளும் நன்றே) is the discipline (செறிவு) of not speaking first (முந்து கிளவா) before wise elders (முதுவர்). Silence before wisdom shows true learning.
விளக்கம்
முதியோர், அறிஞர்கள் நிறைந்த சபையில், முதலில் பேசாமல் அடக்கமாய் இருப்பது மிக நல்லது. இது அவையறிதல் அதிகாரத்தின்படி, கற்றறிந்தோர் முன்னிலையில் பணிவுடன் இருப்பதைக் காட்டுகிறது. அடக்கம் அறிவின் அடையாளம்.
Word meanings
- நன்றுnaṉṟugood
- என்றeṉṟacalled
- வற்றுள்ளும்vaṟṟuḷḷumamong those
- நன்றேnaṉṟēis good indeed
- முதுவர்mutuvarelders/wise ones
- உள்uḷamong
- முந்துmuntufirst
- கிளவாkiḷavānot speaking
- செறிவுceṟivurestraint/discipline
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village square, a young merchant named Arul boasted of his clever trade deals. He'd amassed a small fortune by swiftly buying and selling goods, always eager to share his triumphs. One day, an elder, wise in the ways of the world, listened patiently. The elder, known for his thoughtful silences, was revered for his decades of experience. Arul, believing his quick wit superior, continued to expound on his strategies. Suddenly, a seasoned farmer approached the elder, seeking advice on a blight that threatened his crops. The elder, after listening to the farmer's concerns, offered simple, time-tested solutions that saved the harvest. Arul, witnessing this, fell silent. He understood then that true wealth wasn't measured in coins but in the wisdom gained from listening, observing, and learning from those who had walked the path before him. His eagerness to speak had blinded him to the depth of understanding found in quiet reverence.