The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 42
CHAPTER 42
LISTENING TO THE INSTRUCTION OF THE WISE
411. The most precious of treasures is the treasure of the ear: verily it is the crown of all kinds of wealth.
412. Even unto the stomach some food will be offered when there is no more food to be offered to the ear.[1]
413. Behold the men who have listened to much instruction: they are very Gods on earth.
414. Let a man hear instruction even though he hath no learning : for it will be a stay unto him when he is encompassed by difficulty.
415. The counsel of the righteous is like unto a strong staff: for it keepeth those that listen to it from slipping.
416. Listen to good words though they be but few : even those few will add to thee a proportionate dignity.
417. 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.
418. Deaf indeed though it heareth is the ear that hath not been drilled by words of instruction.
419. Humility of speech is hard to be attained by those who have not listened to the subtle words of the wise.
420. Behold the men that taste with the tongue but know not the taste of the ear: what doth it matter to the world whether they live or die?
- ↑ Food is not to be thought of so long as there is instruction to listen to.