Learning by Listening
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
eṉaittāṉu nallavai kēṭka vaṉaittāṉu / māṉṟa perumai tarum
Listen to good and useful truths, however small their measure; each measure will yield a corresponding fullness of mature excellence.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Let each man good things learn, for e'en as he / Shall learn, he gains increase of perfect dignity.”
“Listen to good words though they be but few: even those few will add to thee a proportionate dignity.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
எனைத்தானும் நல்லவை கேட்க= ஒருவன் சிறிதாயினும் உறுதிப்பொருள்களைக் கேட்க; அனைத்தானும் ஆன்ற பெருமை தரும்= அக்கேள்வி அத்துணையாயினும் நிறைந்த பெருமையை தரும் ஆகலான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar emphasizes proportion: even a small hearing of sound, beneficial truths yields a corresponding share of mature excellence. The verse encourages receptive learning in every available measure; it does not assign fixed dignity, intelligence, or human worth according to how much instruction someone has received.