Not Fearing the Assembly
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kaṟṟārmuṟ kaṟṟa celaccollit tāṅkaṟṟa / mikkāruṇ mikka koḷal.
Before the learned, present what you know so that it reaches them; then learn the greater matters from those whose learning exceeds yours.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“What you have learned, in penetrating words speak out before / The learn'd; but learn what men more learn'd can teach you more.”
“Place before the learned that which thou hast mastered: and that which thou knowest not, learn from them that excel therein.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கற்றார் முன் கற்ற செலச் சொல்லி= பல நூல்களையும் கற்றார் அவைக்கண் தாம் கற்றவற்றை அவர் மனம் கொள்ளுமாற்றாற் சொல்லி; தாம் கற்ற மிக்க மிக்காருள் கொளல்= அவற்றின் மிக்க பொருள்களை அம் மிகக் கற்றாரிடத்து அறிந்து கொள்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains a reciprocal discipline: make one's learning understood in an assembly of learned people, and then receive the greater matters known by those more learned.