Learning by Listening
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celvattuṭ celvañ ceviccelva maccelvañ / celvattu ḷellān talai
“Wealth of wealth is wealth acquired be ear attent; / Wealth mid all wealth supremely excellent.”
“The most precious of treasures is the treasure of the ear: verily it is the crown of all kinds of wealth.”
Among forms of wealth, wealth gained through attentive listening is wealth indeed; that wealth stands foremost among them all.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செல்வத்துட் செல்வம் செவிச்செல்வம்= ஒருவற்குச் சிறப்புடைய செல்வமாவது செவியான் வருஞ் செல்வம்; அச்செல்வம் செல்வத்துள் எல்லாம் தலை= அச்செல்வம் பிற செல்வங்கள் எல்லாவற்றினுந் தலையாகலான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Among all treasures possessed by humankind, the treasure of wisdom gathered through the ear is supreme; for that listening wealth stands exalted above all material possessions.