Learning by Listening
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ceviyuṇaviṟ kēḷvi yuṭaiyār aviyuṇaviṉ / ṉāṉṟārō ṭoppar nilattu
“Who feed their ear with learned teachings rare, / Are like the happy gods oblations rich who share.”
“Behold the men who have listened to much instruction: they are very Gods on earth.”
People who possess learning as food for the ear, though on earth, are like the gods who receive sacrificial offerings.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செவி உணவின் கேள்வி உடையார்= செவி உணவாகிய கேள்வியனை உடையார்; நிலத்து அவி உணவின் ஆன்றாரோடு ஒப்பர்= நிலத்தின்கண்ணராயினும் அவி உணவினை யுடைய தேவரோடு ஒப்பர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Sages on earth who nourish themselves with the food of wisdom received through the ear are equal in spiritual stature to the celestial gods who partake of sacred offerings.