Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Royalty (அரசியல்) — Hearing (கேள்வி)

Kural 411:
செல்வத்துட் செல்வஞ் செவிச்செல்வம் அச்செல்வம்
செல்வத்து ளெல்லாந் தலை.
selvaththut selvanj sevichselvam achselvam
selvaththu Lellaanh thalai
English couplet:
Wealth of wealth is wealth acquired be ear attent;
Wealth mid all wealth supremely excellent.
Explanation: Wealth (gained) by the ear is wealth of wealth; that wealth is the chief of all wealth.

Kural 412:
செவுக்குண வில்லாத போழ்து சிறிது
வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப் படும்.
sevikkuNa villaadha poazhdhu siRidhu
vayitrukkum eeyap padum
English couplet:
When 'tis no longer time the listening ear to feed
With trifling dole of food supply the body's need.
Explanation: When there is no food for the ear, give a little also to the stomach.

Kural 413:
செவியுணவிற் கேள்வி யுடையார் அவியுணவின்
ஆன்றாரோ டொப்பர் நிலத்து.
seviyuNaviR kaeLvi yudaiyaar aviyuNavin
aandraaroa toppar nilaththu
English couplet:
Who feed their ear with learned teachings rare,
Are like the happy gods oblations rich who share.
Explanation: Those who in this world enjoy instruction which is the food of the ear, are equal to the Gods, who enjoy the food of the sacrifices.

Kural 414:
கற்றில னாயினுங் கேட்க அஃதொருவற்கு
ஒற்கத்தின் ஊற்றாந் துணை.
katrila NaayinunG kaetka aqdhoruvaRku
oRkaththin ootraanh thuNai
English couplet:
Though learning none hath he, yet let him hear alway:
In weakness this shall prove a staff and stay.
Explanation: Although a man be without learning, let him listen (to the teaching of the learned); that will be to him a staff in adversity.

Kural 415:
இழுக்கல் உடையுழி ஊற்றுக்கோல் அற்றே
ஒழுக்க முடையார்வாய்ச் சொல்.
izhukkal udaiyuzhi ootrukkoal atrae
ozhukka mudaiyaarvaaich sol
English couplet:
Like staff in hand of him in slippery ground who strays
Are words from mouth of those who walk in righteous ways.
Explanation: The words of the good are like a staff in a slippery place.

Kural 416:
எனைத்தானும் நல்லவை கேட்க அனைத்தானும்
ஆன்ற பெருமை தரும்.
enaiththaanum nallavai kaetka anaiththaanum
aandra perumai tharum
English couplet:
Let each man good things learn, for e'en as he
Shall learn, he gains increase of perfect dignity.
Explanation: Let a man listen, never so little, to good (instruction), even that will bring him great dignity.

Kural 417:
பிழைத்துணர்ந்தும் பேதைமை சொல்லா ரிழைத்துணர்ந்
தீண்டிய கேள்வி யவர்.
pizhaiththuNarndhum paedhaimai sollaa rizhaiththuNarnh
theeNtiya kaeLvi yavar
English couplet:
Not e'en through inadvertence speak they foolish word,
With clear discerning mind who've learning's ample lessons heard.
Explanation: Not even when they have imperfectly understood (a matter), will those men speak foolishly, who have profoundly studied and diligently listened (to instruction).

Kural 418:
கேட்பினுங் கேளாத் தகையவே கேள்வியால்
தோட்கப் படாத செவி.
kaetpinunG kaeLaath thakaiyavae kaeLviyaal
thoatkap pataadha sevi
English couplet:
Where teaching hath not oped the learner's ear,
The man may listen, but he scarce can hear.
Explanation: The ear which has not been bored by instruction, although it hears, is deaf.

Kural 419:
நுணங்கிய கேள்விய ரல்லார் வணங்கிய
வாயின ராதல் அரிது.
nuNangiya kaeLviya rallaar vaNangiya
vaayina raadhal aridhu
English couplet:
'Tis hard for mouth to utter gentle, modest word,
When ears discourse of lore refined have never heard.
Explanation: It is a rare thing to find modesty, a reverend mouth- with those who have not received choice instruction.

Kural 420:
செவியிற் சுவையுணரா வாயுணர்வின் மாக்கள்
அவியினும் வாழினும் என்.
seviyiR suvaiyuNaraa vaayuNarvin maakkaL
aviyinum vaazhinum en
English couplet:
His mouth can taste, but ear no taste of joy can give!
What matter if he die, or prosperous live?.
Explanation: What does it matter whether those men live or die, who can judge of tastes by the mouth, and not by the ear ?.