Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,276

Date uploaded in London – 6 October 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

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Points to be noted:

Yagas – havis- food of Devas is in Kural 413; he has used the simile in a positive way; it shows that he venerated Yagas and Yajnas; it also shows that it was very much practised in his days. Otherwise, this type of smile would be out of date.

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Following Translations are used:

1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933

2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000

3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

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Chapter 42- Hearing- Listening- கேள்வி

411.There is no wealth greater than the wealth of wisdom acquired by listening to the wise A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933

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411.The greatest wealth is earned by listening to discourses of the learned,

Which is the sublimest of all wealth –S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000

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411
Wealth of wealth is wealth acquired be ear attent;
Wealth mid all wealth supremely excellent.
Wealth (gained) by the ear is wealth of wealth; that wealth is the chief of all wealth. Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

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411.Wealth of wealths is listening’s wealth
It is the best of wealths on earth.  Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB     

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411.Listening and learning from the wise are the treasure of treasures; the best of wealth –EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986.

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411.True wealth of wealth is wealth gained through ear;

Amidst all our wealth that is indeed is the chief- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

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411. செல்வத்துள் செல்வஞ் செவிச்செல்வம் அச்செல்வம்
செல்வத்து ளெல்லாந் தலை.

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412.Just satisfy a bit the cravings of your hunger, when there is no more charming discourse to feed the listening ear- ANM+2

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412.When food for thought is not available through instructions from the learned,

The stomach too may be provided some food– SMD

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412
When ’tis no longer time the listening ear to feed
With trifling dole of food supply the body’s need.
When there is no food for the ear, give a little also to the stomach. – GUP

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412.Some food for the stomach is brought
When the ear gets no food for thought. – SB     

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412.When there is no food for the ear, a little food will be given to the stomach too– EVS

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412.When to the listening ear food is not close at hand,

Then let a little to the hungry mouth be given – HAP

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412. செவிக்குண வில்லாத போழ்து சிறிது
வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப் படும்.

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413.He is a god among men who has drunk in the charms of a sweet discourse- ANM+2

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413.Persons who have listened and internalised from instructions of the learned,

Will be like gods on earth, flourishing on oblational offerings– SMD

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413
Who feed their ear with learned teachings rare,
Are like the happy gods oblations rich who share.
Those who in this world enjoy instruction which is the food of the ear, are equal to the Gods, who enjoy the food of the sacrifices. – GUP

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413.Whose ears get lots of wisdom-food
Equal gods on oblations fed.       – SB     

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413.Those who in this world enjoy instruction, which is the food of the ear, are equal to the gods who enjoy the food of the sacrifice– EVS

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413. செவியுணவிற் கேள்வி யுடையார் அவியுணவின்
ஆன்றாரோ டொப்பர் நிலத்து.

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414.Ignorant though you be, listen to the wise and fill your mind with lofty thoughts, for they will help you in adversity- ANM+2

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414.Learning is necessary, but even those who are not formally learned should listen to the wise,

For such learning acquired through listening, will be a staff of support in times of weakness– SMD

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414
Though learning none hath he, yet let him hear always:
In weakness this shall prove a staff and stay.
Although a man be without learning, let him listen (to the teaching of the learned); that will be to him a staff in adversity. – GUP

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414.Though not learned, hear and heed
That serves a staff and stay in need.   – SB   

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414.Though a man has no learning, let him listen; like a staff, it will support him in his depression– EVS

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414. கற்றில னாயினும் கேட்க அஃதொருவற்கு
ஒற்கத்தின் ஊற்றாந் துணை.

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415.Like a steady staff on a treacherous slide, are the words of the pure and the good- ANM+2

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415.The instructions that flow from learned men of righteous conduct,

Constitute a firm staff on slippery ground, to the learner– SMD

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415
Like staff in hand of him in slippery ground who strays
Are words from mouth of those who walk in righteous ways.
The words of the good are like a staff in a slippery place. – GUP

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415.Virtuous men’s wisdom is found
A strong staff on slippery ground.  – SB   

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 415.The speech from the mouth of the righteous is like the staff for the ground that is slippery– EVS

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415.The words of righteous men are like a staff

To those whose feet are set in slippery ways – HAP

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415. இழுக்கல் உடையுழி ஊற்றுக்கோல் அற்றே
ஒழுக்க முடையார்வாய்ச் சொல்.

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416.Listen to the moiety of the great one’s discourse, for even that will redound to the glory of your soul- ANM+2

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416.Even if it is just a little, listen and assimilate good instruction,

It will be productive of great benefit– SMD

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416
Let each man good things learn, for e’en as he
Shall learn, he gains increase of perfect dignity.
Let a man listen, never so little, to good (instruction), even that will bring him great dignity. – GUP
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416.Lend ear to good words however few
That much will highly exalt you.    – SB        
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416.Listen to whatever is good, however little; little as it may be, it will bring you much greatness – EVS

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416.Listen to good word though they be but few

For even those few great dignity will give– HAP

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6. எனைத்தானும் நல்லவை கேட்க அனைத்தானும்
ஆன்ற பெருமை தரும்.

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417.Men who have dwelt in the company of  the discerning and the wise, slip not into errors even in unwary moments- ANM+2

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417.Those who have absorbed flawless knowledge in searching enquiries through the faculty of listening,

Will not foolishly slip up even while labouring under some error– SMD

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417
Not e’en through inadvertence speak they foolish word,
With clear discerning mind who’ve learning’s ample lessons heard.
Not even when they have imperfectly understood (a matter), will those men speak foolishly, who have profoundly studied and diligently listened (to instruction). – GUP

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417.Who listen well and learn sharply
Not ev’n by slip speak foolishly.     – SB       
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417.They do not err into wrongdoing who listen, understand and reflect over wise words– EVS

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417. பிழைத்துணர்ந்தும் பேதைமை சொல்லார் இழைத்துணர்ந்
தீண்டிய கேள்வி யவர்.

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418.Deaf is the ear which has not caught the true accents of the great- ANM+2

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418.Ears hat not have been penetrated by words of instruction from the learned,

Will be effectively deaf, even if functionally in order– SMD

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418
Where teaching hath not opened the learner’s ear,
The man may listen, but he scarce can hear.
The ear which has not been bored by instruction, although it hears, is deaf. – GUP

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418.That ear though hearing is dulled
Which is not by wisdom drilled.    – SB        

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418.Of the nature of deaf is the ear into which wisdom heard has not pierced, although it hears– EVS

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418. கேட்பினுங் கேளாத் தகையவே கேள்வியால்
தோட்கப் படாத செவி.

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419.Words of grace and humility never fall from the lips of men whose ears are alien to the utterance of master minds- ANM+2

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419.Except those of deep and incisive knowledge absorbed by listening to the wise,

 Others will rarely develop humility of speech– SMD

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419
‘Tis hard for mouth to utter gentle, modest word,
When ears discourse of lore refined have never heard.
It is a rare thing to find modesty, a reverend mouth- with those who have not received choice instruction. – GUP

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419.A modest mouth is hard for those
Who care little to counsels wise.    – SB        

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419.Polite speech is difficult for those who do not listen keenly to wise discourses– EVS

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419. நுணங்கிய கேள்வியர் ரல்லார் வணங்கிய
வாயின ராதல் அரிது

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420.What does it matter whether a man lives or dies, if he merely satisfies his palate and neglects instruction? – ANM+2

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420.People who have not experienced the delights of listening to the expositions of the learned,

And relish only the tastes of the mouth, it matters little whether they live or die– SMD

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420
His mouth can taste, but ear no taste of joy can give!
What matter if he die, or prosperous live?
What does it matter whether those men live or die, who can judge of tastes by the mouth, and not by the ear ? – GUP

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420.Who taste by mouth and not by ear
What if they fare ill or well here?     – SB       

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420.What matters it if those live or die, who judge of taste by mouth, and not by ear? – EVS

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420.What matter if they live or die, who only know

What is sweet to tongue, and what is not sweet to ear? – HAP

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420. செவியிற் சுவையுணரா வாயுணர்வின் மாக்கள்
அவியினும் வாழினும் என்.

–subham—

Tags-Tirukkural Encyclopaedia Chapter 42 Listening Hearing கேள்வி , Yagas, Yajnas, Havis