72.4 Judging the Audience (அவை அறிதல்)

 72.4 Judging the Audience (அவை அறிதல்)

Question:

What is the difference between speaking to intellectuals versus ignorant people?

Answer:

Speaking to those who have the ability to understand is

like watering a bed of growing plants.                                        (Couplet – 718)

உணர்வ துடையார்முன் சொல்லல் வளர்வதன்

பாத்தியுள் நீர்சொரிந் தற்று.                                                   (குறள் – 718)

 

Those who are capable of speaking impressively to a learned

audience should not make the mistake of addressing

the audience who are incapable of understanding them.                    (Couplet – 719)

புல்லவையுள் பொச்சாந்தும் சொல்லற்க நல்லவையுள்

நன்குசெலச் சொல்லு வார்.                                 (குறள் – 719)

 

Indulging in learned discourses before an audience

who are not your intellectual equals Is like pouring

life-saving nectar into the gutter.                                               (Couplet – 720)          

அங்கணத்துள் உக்க அமிழ்தற்றால் தங்கணத்தார்

அல்லார்முன் கோட்டி கொளல்.                                             (குறள் – 720)

 

Explanation:

Valluvar says that when a learned man addresses an assembly of other learned men, they will eagerly absorb his speech, like growing plants absorbing water. He also warns that a speaker who is capable of delivering impressive lectures to a learned audience should never consider giving such presentations to an audience who is incapable of understanding him. In fact, he says that indulging in highly intellectual discussions with those who do not have the capacity to understand or appreciate what is said is like pouring life-saving nectar into a gutter.