Tirukural – Chapter 41
Chapter 41: The Neglect of Learning
Verse 409
A young scholar sits under a tree surrounded by the ancient texts which he knows well. His nobility is such that crowds gather to hear his words.
You can access the entire text, in Tamil and English here:
Weaver’s Wisdom
Verse 401
Speaking to a learned gathering without ample knowledge
is like playing a dice game without the board.
Verse 402
An uneducated man desiring to be eloquent
is like a breastless woman longing to be feminine.
Verse 403
Even the ignorant will be considered wise
if they refrain from speaking in the presence of the learned.
Verse 404
However excellent an untaught man’s knowledge may be,
erudite men will never accept it.
Verse 405
An unschooled man’s self-conceit will shrivel
the moment he speaks to an assembly.
Verse 406
Like unproductive barren land is the man who has neglected
learning. All that can be said about him is that he exists.
Verse 407
The handsome charm of him whose knowledge
is neither subtle nor penetrating is like that of a painted clay doll.
Verse 408
Even more wretched than a learned man’s poverty
is the unlearned man’s wealth.
Verse 409
Though he is humbly born, a lettered man’s nobility
transcends that of the illiterate nobleman.
Verse 410
As men are to wild beasts, so are the masters
of brilliant texts to other men.
2 Responses to “Tirukural – Chapter 41”
From Our Gurus' Teachings
Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.
June 21st, 2021 at 9:29 pm
“AUM”!
June 30th, 2021 at 10:03 am
Thank you.