Learning by Listening
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
kēṭpiṉuṅ kēḷāt takaiyavē kēḷviyāṟ / ṟōṭkap paṭāta cevi
Even when they register sound, ears not opened by learning remain, in the verse's metaphor, as though they did not hear.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Where teaching hath not oped the learner's ear, / The man may listen, but he scarce can hear.”
“Deaf indeed though it heareth is the ear that hath not been drilled by words of instruction.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கேட்பினும் கேளாத் தகையவே= தம் புலமாய ஓசை மாத்திரத்தைக் கேட்குமாயினும் செவிடாம் தன்மையவேயாம்; கேள்வியால் தோட்கப்படாத செவி= கேள்வியால் துளைக்கப்படாத செவிகள்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar distinguishes merely registering sound from being opened by learning: ears untouched by inquiry are described through the ancient metaphor of deafness. The contrast concerns receptive understanding, not auditory ability. The ableist comparison must be retained as historical rhetoric but never applied literally to Deaf people, hearing differences, neurodivergence, or any communication method.