Thirukkural-On Wealth-On Listening To The Wise-Kural-414

Karrila nayinum ketka ahtoruvarku
Orkattin urran tunai

Learning is necessary, but even those who are not formally learned should listen to the wise,
For such learning acquired through listening, will be a staff of support in times of weakness.

In the first line, I have relied on Parimel Azhagar to give a free translation. That prince among Kural commentators would say that the suffix, 'Aayinum" implies very clearly that learning is definitely a vital accomplishment for any human being.

Rajaji describes the learning acquired, through hearing and absorbing instructions from the wise, as a 'staff to learn upon when beset by physical weakness".

'Pazhamozhi" goes one step further and would say that listening to instructions from the learned is even better than just indifferent self-learning day and night.

“Kanakinai mutrup pagalum muniyaadhu inithoadhi
Katralin kaetalae nanru"

This is also in line with the Biblical statement,
“A wise man will hear and increase his learning" (proverb, 1:5)