Learning by Listening
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piḻaittuṇarntum pētaimai collā riḻaittuṇarn / tīṇṭiya kēḷvi yavar
“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.”
Those whose listening has accumulated through careful discernment will not voice a foolish claim, even when they have first understood something incorrectly.
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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
Those who have investigated truths deeply and accumulated abundant wisdom through listening will never utter foolish words, even if an initial impression was mistaken.