II. Porutpaal

II.2 Amaichchiyal

Athikaaram 72 Avaiyarithal

Kural 711


Avaiyarinthu aaraainthu solluha sollin
Thohaiyarintha thooimai yavar.



English translation:

II. WEALTH

II.2 Parliamentary


Chapter. 72 The Knowledge of the Council Chamber


Kural 711.

Men pure in heart, who know of words the varied force,
Should to their audience known adapt their well-arranged discourse.
Let the pure who know the arrangement of words speak with deliberation after ascertaining (the nature of) the court (then assembled).

my understanding:

Those who know the pruity of collection of words will ascertain the audience and speak.
or,

one has to ascertain the audience and understand the meaning of "collection words" in the sentence. (meaning of words separately might have different meaning but, when coined in that particular arrangement to form that sentence, might give a different meaning. so, one has to know what it means when the sentence is formed like this, and one has to know the audience and then speak).


other kurals:
Kural - 712
Good men to whom the arts of eloquence are known,
Should seek occasion meet, and say what well they've made their own.
Let the good who know the uses of words speak with a clear knowledge after ascertaining the time (suited to the court).


my understanding:

know the place and understand/realise what you are speaking, you are among the good who knows the practice here.

(In this kural he addresses the person directly. all the kurals show extre caution as if he is directly dealing with someone's pshycological factor).



Kural - 713
Unversed in councils, who essays to speak.
Knows not the way of suasive words,- and all is weak.
Those who undertake to speak without knowing the (nature of the) court are ignorant of the quality of words as well as devoid of the power (of learning).



Kural - 714
Before the bright ones shine as doth the light!
Before the dull ones be as purest stucco white!
Ministers should be lights in the assembly of the enlightned, but assume the pure whiteness of mortar (ignorance) in that of fools.

my understanding:
ministers should behave like an enlightened (learned?) in the presence of enlightened, and should assume the "ignorant", in the presence of outsiders.


Kural - 715
Midst all good things the best is modest grace,
That speaks not first before the elders' face.
The modesty by which one does not rush forward and speak in (an assembly of) superiors is the best among all (one's) good qualities.



Kural - 716
As in the way one tottering falls, is slip before
The men whose minds are filled with varied lore.
(For a minister) to blunder in the presence of those who have acquired a vast store of learning and know (the value thereof) is like a good man stumbling (and falling away) from the path (of virtue).



Kural - 717
The learning of the learned sage shines bright
To those whose faultless skill can value it aright.
The learning of those who have read and understood (much) will shine in the assembly of those who faultlessly examine (the nature of) words.




Kural - 718
To speak where understanding hearers you obtain,
Is sprinkling water on the fields of growing grain!
Lecturing to those who have the ability to understand (for themselves) is like watering a bed of plants that are growing (of themselves).



Kural - 719
In councils of the good, who speak good things with penetrating power,
In councils of the mean, let them say nought, e'en in oblivious hour.
Those who are able to speak good things impressively in an assembly of the good should not even forgetfully speak them in that of the low.



Kural - 720
Ambrosia in the sewer spilt, is word
Spoken in presence of the alien herd.
To utter (a good word) in the assembly of those who are of inferior rank is like dropping nectar on the ground.