Kural #729
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
கல்லாதான் சொல்லும் களவாக்
கலங்காது கற்றானாம் கல்வி யுடைத்து
Kallātāṉ collum kaḷavāk
Kalaṅkātu kaṟṟāṉām kalvi yuṭaittu
English translation
The speech of the unlearned is like theft; true learning belongs only to those who can speak without confusion.
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Explanation
When an ignorant person speaks, their words are like stolen property - they have no right to them. Genuine learning belongs only to those who can articulate clearly and confidently without confusion or hesitation.
விளக்கம்
கல்லாதவன் பேசுவது திருட்டுப் பொருள் மாதிரி. தெளிவில்லாமல் பேசுவது அறியாமையின் அடையாளம். கற்றவரே குழப்பமில்லாமல் பேச முடியும். அவை அஞ்சாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கல்வி அறிவே தைரியம் தரும் என்கிறது.
Word meanings
- கல்லாதான்kallātāṉthe unlearned one
- சொல்லும்collumspeech/words
- களவுkaḷavutheft/stealing
- ஆகākaas/like
- கலங்காதுkalaṅkātuwithout confusion
- கற்றானாம்kaṟṟāṉāmbelonging to the learned
- கல்விkalvilearning/education
- உடைத்துuṭaittupossesses
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, a grand market day was held. Merchants displayed their wares, and villagers gathered to trade. A boisterous man, known for his loud voice but little knowledge, claimed to be an expert on rare spices. He loudly declared the price of saffron was higher than gold, though he'd never seen the spice. A quiet woman, Elara, approached. She was known for her years of study in herbalism. Calmly, she pointed out the saffron's true value, explaining its origins and uses with precise detail. The crowd, initially swayed by the boisterous man, turned to Elara, captivated by her confident explanations. The loud merchant stammered, his face flushed. He retreated in embarrassment, muttering about a sudden need to find a different trade. Elara, unfazed, continued sharing her knowledge. The villagers, now wiser, eagerly sought her advice. The market buzzed with the real value of things, not just the loud claims of those who pretended to know.