Listening (Kelvvi)

Kural 411

Selvaththul Selvam Sevichselvam Achselvam
Selvaththul Ellaam Thalai

Simple Meaning:
Among wealth, the wealth of knowledge gained by hearing is best. That wealth is chief among all wealth.

For Students:
Knowledge wealth gained by listening is the greatest wealth. This is superior to all other wealth.

Kural 412

Sevikkkunavu Illaadha Pozhuthu Sirithu Vayitrukku
Eeyap Paduum Soru

Simple Meaning:
When there is no good listening which is food for the ear, even a little rice given to the stomach is enough.

For Students:
If there is no knowledge food gained by listening, there is no use giving food to the body. Knowledge food is important.

Kural 413

Seviyunavin Kelvvi Yudaiyaar Aviyunavin
Aandraar Nilathiyal Pundhu

Simple Meaning:
Those who have listening knowledge which is ears food are excellent in the world like great people who ate sacrificial food.

For Students:
Those who have wisdom gained by listening are the best in the world. They are like divine beings.

Kural 414

Katrilan Aayinum Ketka Ahdhoruvatku
Otkathin Oottraan Thunai

Simple Meaning:
Even if one is unlearned, one should listen. Listening becomes a helpful companion in times of trouble.

For Students:
Even if you dont know reading, its okay, learn by listening. Knowledge heard will help in difficult times.

Kural 415

Izhukkal Udaiyuzhi Ootrukkol Altre
Ozhukkam Udaiyaarvai Sol

Simple Meaning:
In times of trouble, the words from the mouth of the virtuous become like a supporting staff.

For Students:
In sorrow, advice from good people helps us like a walking stick. So listen to good peoples words.

Kural 416

Seviyullaa Renum Arivilaa Renpathu
Seviyillaa Thenum Arivu

Simple Meaning:
Even those without ears can understand that people who have ears but do not listen are ignorant.

For Students:
People who have ears but do not listen to good advice are foolish. Even people without ears can understand this. So never miss the opportunity to listen.

Kural 417

Seviyin Madutthu Arivu Enjaa Nirainthor
Kaviyil Suvai Kandaar Pol

Simple Meaning:
Those whose knowledge is enriched by listening are like people who have tasted the sweetness of sugarcane.

For Students:
People who gain knowledge by listening experience joy like the sweetness you get when you chew sugarcane. There is so much pleasure in listening and learning.

Kural 418

Seviil Thiniththunai Yaanayinum Kelviyaal
Thevar Manathu Eruvaar

Simple Meaning:
Even if the knowledge gained by listening is as small as a millet grain, it will elevate one to the minds of the gods.

For Students:
Even a little knowledge gained by listening will make a person great. They will be respected like gods. So even listening a little is very useful.

Kural 419

Thottunar Thol Pol Karuththunar Vaikkum
Vittaa Thuyarkkum Sevi

Simple Meaning:
Like the skin that feels by touch, the ear understands meaning by listening and firmly establishes it in the mind.

For Students:
Just as skin feels immediately when touched, the ear understands meaning when it hears and stores it in the mind. The power of the ear is very great.

Kural 420

Sevikkkunavu Illaadha Pozhtil Palsuvai
Ullathu Anaiyathu Udambu

Simple Meaning:
When there is no food for the ear which is listening, the body is useless even if it has many tasty foods.

For Students:
If the ear has no knowledge food, even if the body is healthy it has no purpose. Knowledge is more important than body. Life becomes meaningful only by listening and learning.

Fill in the Blanks Practice

1. Selvaththul Selvam ________ Achselvam
Answer: Sevichselvam

2. Selvaththul Ellaam ________
Answer: Thalai

3. Sevikkkunavu Illaadha Pozhuthu ________
Answer: Sirithu

4. Katrilan Aayinum ________
Answer: Ketka

5. Otkathin Oottraan ________
Answer: Thunai

6. Seviyullaa Renum ________
Answer: Arivilaar

7. Seviyin Madutthu ________
Answer: Arivu

8. Kaviyil Suvai Kandaar ________
Answer: Pol

9. Thiniththunai Yaanayinum ________
Answer: Kelviyaal

10. Thottunar Thol Pol ________
Answer: Karuththunar

Section A: Quotation Questions (15)

1. "Selvaththul Selvam Sevichselvam" - Which chapter contains this kural?
Answer: Kelvvi (Listening) chapter

2. Which kural numbers contain the Kelvvi chapter?
Answer: 411 to 420

3. "Sevikkkunavu Illaadha Pozhuthu" - What is the meaning?
Answer: When there is no good listening which is food for the ear

4. "Katrilan Aayinum Ketka" - What is this about?
Answer: Even the unlearned should learn by listening

5. In which Iyal is the Kelvvi chapter?
Answer: Thuravaraviyal

6. "Otkathin Oottraan Thunai" - What is the companion?
Answer: Listening knowledge

7. In which Paal is the Kelvvi chapter?
Answer: Araththuppaal

8. Kelvvi chapter number?
Answer: 42

9. How many kurals are there in Kelvvi chapter?
Answer: 10 kurals

10. "Seviyunavin Kelvvi Yudaiyaar" - Who are these?
Answer: Those who have wisdom gained by listening

Section B: Fill in the Blanks (20)

1. Selvaththul Selvam ________ Achselvam
Answer: Sevichselvam

2. Selvaththul Ellaam ________
Answer: Thalai

3. Sevikkkunavu Illaadha Pozhuthu ________
Answer: Sirithu

4. Vayitrukku Eeyap Paduum ________
Answer: Soru

5. Seviyunavin Kelvvi ________
Answer: Yudaiyaar

6. Katrilan Aayinum ________
Answer: Ketka

7. Otkathin Oottraan ________
Answer: Thunai

8. Izhukkal Udaiyuzhi ________
Answer: Ootrukkol

9. Ozhukkam Udaiyaarvai ________
Answer: Sol

10. Thinaiththunai Oonddriya ________
Answer: Kelvvi

Section C: True or False (10)

1. Kelvvi chapter is in Porutpaal
Answer: False (Its in Araththuppaal)

2. There are 10 kurals in Kelvvi chapter
Answer: True

3. Kelvvi chapter number is 41
Answer: False (Its 42)

4. Kelvvi chapter is in kurals 411-420
Answer: True

5. Body food is more important than knowledge food
Answer: False (Knowledge food is important)

6. Ears wealth is the best wealth
Answer: True

7. The unlearned should not listen
Answer: False (Even unlearned should listen)

8. Kelvvi chapter is in Illaraviyal
Answer: False (Its in Thuravaraviyal)

9. Listening knowledge helps in difficult times
Answer: True

10. Should listen to wrong speech too
Answer: False (Listen only to good speech)

Section D: Short Answers (5)

1. State the importance of listening.

Answer: Listening is a very important method of education. Knowledge wealth gained by listening is superior to all other wealth. Listening knowledge helps as companion in difficult times.

2. "Selvaththul Selvam Sevichselvam" - Explain.

Answer: Knowledge wealth gained by hearing is superior to all other wealth. That wealth is chief among all wealth. Wealth like money can be lost, but knowledge wealth lasts forever.

3. Why is ears food important?

Answer: If there is no listening knowledge which is food for the ear, there is no use giving food to the body. Knowledge food is important. Knowledge gained by listening distinguishes humans from animals.

4. Why should even the unlearned listen?

Answer: Even if you dont know reading, learn by listening. Listening knowledge helps like a walking stick in difficult times. Those who learn by listening become like educated people.

5. What is the position of Kelvvi chapter in Thirukkural?

Answer:

• Chapter number: 42
• Kural numbers: 411-420
• Iyal: Thuravaraviyal
• Paal: Araththuppaal