Learning by Listening
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
piḻaittuṇarntum pētaimai collā riḻaittuṇarn / tīṇṭiya kēḷvi yavar
Those whose listening has accumulated through careful discernment will not voice a foolish claim, even when they have first understood something incorrectly.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Not e'en through inadvertence speak they foolish word, / With clear discerning mind who've learning's ample lessons heard.”
“Behold the man that hath meditated much in himself and hath laid by a store of instruction by listening to the wise: he talketh not nonsense even when in error.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பிழைத்து உணர்ந்தும் பேதைமை சொல்லார்= பிறழ உணர்ந்தவழியும் தமக்குப் பேதைமை பயக்கும் சொற்களைச் சொல்லார்; இழைத்து உணர்ந்து ஈண்டிய கேள்வியவர்= பொருள்களைத் தாமும் நுண்ணிதாக ஆராய்ந்து அறிந்து அதன்மேலும் ஈண்டிய கேள்வியினை யுடையார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar describes people who connect and examine meanings for themselves and add abundant learning from others. Even when their first understanding goes astray, that disciplined listening restrains them from asserting a foolish claim. The point is correction and epistemic humility, not superiority, polished speech, or permission to label a person foolish.