Kural #649
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Tamil text
பலசொல்லக் காமுறுவர் மன்றமா
சற்ற சிலசொல்லல் தேற்றா தவர்
Palacollak kāmuṟuvar maṉṟamā
Caṟṟa cilacollal tēṟṟā tavar
English translation
Those who cannot speak a few flawless words will desire to speak many words.
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Explanation
Those who lack skill in concise expression (சிலசொல்லல்) compensate with quantity (பலசொல்ல). True eloquence is economical - few words, great impact.
விளக்கம்
குறைவான, குற்றமில்லாத வார்த்தைகளைச் சொல்லத் தெரியாதவர்கள் நிறைய பேச ஆசைப்படுவார்கள். சொல்வன்மை அதிகாரத்தில், திறமையான பேச்சு சில வார்த்தைகளில் பெரிய கருத்தை உணர்த்தும். குறைவாகப் பேசி தெளிவாகச் சொல்வதே நல்லது.
Word meanings
- பலpalamany
- சொல்லcollato speak
- காமுறுவர்kāmuṟuvarwill desire
- மன்றmaṉṟaindeed
- மாசுmācuflaw
- அற்றaṟṟawithout
- சிலcilafew
- சொல்லல்collalspeaking
- தேற்றாதவர்tēṟṟātavarthose who are not clear
Story behind this kural
In a bustling marketplace of old, a traveling merchant named Silas always boasted of his vast knowledge. He'd corner villagers, spinning elaborate tales of faraway lands, using a flurry of words to impress. His rival, Elara, a weaver of fine silks, spoke sparingly. When she described her work, each word was chosen with care, painting vivid pictures with simple phrases. One day, the King sought a new cloak. Silas, with his usual flourish, presented a lengthy description of his wares. Yet, the King found himself lost in the verbose presentation. Elara then stepped forward. She held up a single bolt of her silk, the color of twilight. "Woven under the moon," she whispered, "for a King's dreams." The King, captivated, chose Elara’s silk. Silas, defeated, retreated, muttering about the unfairness of it all. He still couldn't understand why his many words had failed.