Kural #720
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Tamil text
அங்கணத்துள் உக்க அமிழ்தற்றால்
தங்கணத்தார் அல்லார்முன் கோட்டி கொளல்
Aṅkaṇattuḷ ukka amiḻtaṟṟāl
Taṅkaṇattār allārmuṉ kōṭṭi koḷal
English translation
Discoursing before those who are not of one's caliber is like nectar spilled on the ground.
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Explanation
Speaking before those who lack appreciation (தங்கணத்தார் அல்லார்) is like divine nectar (அமிழ்து) spilled on the dirt (அங்கணத்துள் உக்க). Precious words are wasted on unworthy ears.
விளக்கம்
தன்னுடைய அறிவுத்திறன் இல்லாதவர்களிடம் பேசுவது, தரையில் கொட்டிய அமிர்தம் போலாகும். 'அவையறிதல்' அதிகாரத்தில், தகுதி இல்லாத சபையில் பேசக்கூடாது என்பதே நீதி. மதிப்பு தெரியாதவர்களிடம் நல்ல விஷயங்கள் வீணாகும்.
Word meanings
- அங்கணத்துள்aṅkaṇattuḷon the ground
- உக்கukkaspilled
- அமிழ்துamiḻtunectar/ambrosia
- அற்றுaṟṟulike
- ஆல்ālindeed
- தங்கணத்தார்taṅkaṇattārthose of ones caliber
- அல்லார்allārthose who are not
- முன்muṉbefore
- கோட்டிkōṭṭidiscourse
- கொளல்koḷalhaving
Story behind this kural
The village elder, Elara, possessed a voice as rich as dark honey and a mind that crafted words like a skilled potter shapes clay. He often shared his wisdom in the village square, where people gathered eagerly. One day, a traveling merchant, known for his loud boasts and shallow knowledge, insisted on speaking after Elara. He launched into a long, rambling story about faraway lands, filled with exaggeration and empty pronouncements. The villagers exchanged glances, their faces reflecting polite boredom. Elara watched, a quiet sadness in his eyes. The merchant, oblivious, continued, his voice echoing in the square. When he finally finished, the crowd offered only weak applause and quickly dispersed. Later, a young boy found Elara sitting alone. "Why didn't anyone listen to the merchant, elder?" he asked. Elara simply smiled and shook his head, looking toward the setting sun.