29. Leaving ourselves unexplored

ஆழமறி வோமென் றலைகடலிற் பாய்ந்தார்தம்ஆழ மறிந்தா ரிலை

aazhamari vomen ralaikadalir paayndaarthamaazha marindaa rilai

‘We will know its depth,’ they said, and leapt into the surging sea; not one of them has known their own depth.

aazham, ‘depth’, is said of seas and of people alike.

30. Asking keeps us open

வினவா தவர்உள்ளம் பூட்டிய வீடுவினவு பவர்உள்ளம் வாய்

vinavaa thavarullam poottiya veeduvinavu pavarullam vaai

The mind of those who do not ask is a locked house; the mind of those who ask, an opening.

vaai means an opening or doorway, and in everyday Tamil also ‘mouth’.

31. Room for wonder

கண்டேன்என் றான்கண் டதுவே கரையாகும்கண்டிலேன் என்றான் கடல்

kandenen raankan dadhuve karaiyaakumkandilen endraan kadal

Whoever says ‘I have seen’ has seen only the shore; for whoever says ‘I have not seen’, there is the sea.