Tirukkural Chapter 42 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 42 - கேள்வி
CHAPTER 42 - ON LISTENING
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42/07. பிழைத்துணர்ந்தும் பேதமை சொல்லார் இழைத்துணர்ந்து
ஈண்டிய கேள்வி யவர்.

42/07. Pizhaiththunnarndhum pedhamai sollaar izhaiththunnarndhu
Eendiya kaelvi yavar.

42/07. One who has studied and heard good lessons
Even if he has any different idea, he will not speak about it.
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Gowri: One who is in search of knowledge
Will not speak much about what he knows
For fear of being exposed.

Jaya: True, half knowledge is dangerous.
He should listen to wise scholars,
And learn all the useful subjects,
Before giving lectures to others.

Tastes differ, views differ.
Like this, one may differ
From others' views
But about it he never argues.

He may be wrong or right,
Why should he assert
That he is always right
Instead of remaining quiet?
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42/08. கேட்பினும் கேளாத் தகையவே கேள்வியால்
தோட்கப் படாத செவி.

42/08. Ketpinum kelaath thagaiyave kellviyaal
Thotkap padaadha sevi.

42/08. When the ear is not pierced by good lessons
He is considered a deaf even is hears that sound.
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Gowri: If one hears but do not understand what he has heard,
Then what is the use of hearing?

Jaya: Yes Gowri, he hears only a sound
But not its meaning, he has heard.
He's considered a deaf man
Though he can hear, even then.

Sometime he hears with his right ear
And let it out by his left ear,
As it doesn't enter his brain
While trying to grasp it in vain.

Listening with rapt attention
Will definitely help a man
To learn the subject perfectly
With no doubts really.
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42/09. நுணங்கிய கேள்வியர் அல்லார் வணங்கிய
வாயினர் ஆதல் அரிது.

42/09. Nunnangiya kellviyar allaar vannangiya
Vaayinar aadhal aridhu.

42/09. One who has not listened to lectures on good subjects
He cannot naturally speak humble words with others.
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Gowri: It is natural for an uncultured man
to be rough in his behavior.

Jaya: One is not accustomed to hear
At anytime, anywhere,
Respectable words from others,
So he's rough, no wonder it is.

In the company of wise men,
Hearing their good talks then,
One can learn good words
To speak kindly with others.

Hearing is more important
That'll help him out to get
More knowledge in the art
Of using words that'll not hurt.
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42/10. செவியிற் சுவையுணரா வாயுணர்வின் மாக்கள்
அவியினும் வாழினும் என்?

42/10. Seviyirr suvaiyunnaraa vaayunnarvin maakkall
Aviyuinum vazhinum en?

42/10. If persons have no taste of hearing good things, but know well the taste of eating food, What do they lose when they die, or what do they gain by living?
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Gowri: A pertinent question the poet is asking
And it is very difficult to answer him.

Jaya: Yes, he's giving so much stress,
For one to listen to good things,
Or else, what do they gain by living,
Or what do they lose by dying?

He wants people to listen
More of useful lessons
That'll surely help one
To come up in life soon.

He's inviting the attention
Of each and every person
To use their two ears
In learning good things.
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