Lack of Learning
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kallātā ṉoṭpaṅ kaḻiya naṉṟāyiṉuṅ / koḷḷā raṟivuṭai yār
However excellent an unlearned person's subtle insight may be, the learned do not accept it as cultivated understanding.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“From blockheads' lips, when words of wisdom glibly flow, / The wise receive them not, though good they seem to show.”
“The opinion of an ignorant man will be rejected by the wise even though it may be perfectly sensible.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கல்லாதான் ஒட்பம் கழிய நன்றாயினும்= கல்லாதவனது ஒண்மை ஒரோவழி மிக நன்றாய் இருப்பினும்; அறிவுடையார் கொள்ளார்= அறிவுடையார் அதனை ஒண்மையாகக் கொள்ளார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that even when an unlearned person's subtle perception happens to be excellent, learned people do not receive it as cultivated insight. This reports a classical credibility judgement; it is not a humane modern rule to dismiss evidence by birth, credential, literacy, or status.