Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 71 : The Knowledge of Indications
 

Introductory Note

This chapter was applicable to ministers as also to envoys. In today’s world this chapter is applicable to every manager at the least, as we shall see.

Rev. G U Pope says: “The tact required alike by envoy and courtier, that reads the countenance, takes note of the subtlest indications of the ruler’s will.” I disagree with Rev Pope’s interpretation. It does not refer to indications of kings’s will. It refers to the indications from others coming in presence of the king. The good minister will observe all such people and advice the king on them.

Translation(s)

One who knows the signs and reads un-uttered thoughts, he is a gem of earth traversed around by changeless sea.

 

Translation(s)

One, who can scan the minds of men, undoubtedly regards that gifted man as deity.

 

Translation(s)

One who interprets the sign plainly by (merely seeing) the sign; give up any member to gain his aid.

Explanation

Modern research suggests that most people do not possess the above ability but a few do. Read the following abstract of a research published in 1999 in Psychological Science:

"We have shown that it is possible for some people to make highly accurate judgments about lying and truthfulness without any special aids such as slowed motion, repeated viewing, and the scoring of subtle changes by either trained coders or computer-based measurements. ... In our previous study (Ekman & O’Sullivan, 1991), only one law-enforcement group—a small sample of U.S. Secret Service agents—made accurate judgments."
- A FEW CAN CATCH A LIAR – by Paul Ekman, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Mark G. Frank, published in PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, VOL. 10, NO. 3, MAY 1999. http://www.paulekman.com/downloadablearticles.html , retrieved on 7th Apr 2008.

Naturally, since few possess the ability, they are highly valuable. Catching lying by others by simply observing is only one of skills. Other feelings & attitudes can also can be inferred.

Rev. G U Pope interprets it as: the king should sacrifice an “angam” of his state to win such a servant. He then lists four “angams” viz. chariots, elephants, horse, and foot-soldiers. This does not appear to be correct. Even if it is then it is just figurative.

Translation(s)

One who reads what is shown by signs, though the words be unspoken; he may seen as other men in form but in function is far nobler.

Explanation

Ability to Catch Lying by Observing Non-Verbal Communication:

Modern research suggests that most people do not possess the above ability but a few do. Read the following abstract of a research published in 1999 in Psychological Science:

"Research suggests that most people cannot tell from demeanor when others are lying. Such poor performance is typical not only of laypeople but also of most professionals concerned with lying. In this study, three professional groups with special interest or skill in deception, two law-enforcement groups and a select group of clinical psychologists, obtained high accuracy in judging videotapes of people who were lying or telling the truth about their opinions. These findings strengthen earlier evidence that some professional lie catchers are highly accurate, and that behavioral clues to lying are detectable in real time. This study also provides the first evidence that some psychologists can achieve high accuracy in catching lies."

- A FEW CAN CATCH A LIAR – by Paul Ekman, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Mark G. Frank, published in PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, VOL. 10, NO. 3, MAY 1999. http://www.paulekman.com/downloadablearticles.html , retrieved on 7th Apr 2008.]

Translation(s)

One who knows not how to comprehend signs from sign, what gain does he obtain from his eyes amidst all his organs (“members”).

Explanation

In this verse, the poet said, more than a thousand years back, that ministers should learn to read non-verbal communication.

Here is what Mark McCormack writes in his popular book ‘What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School’:

“---------------------------“

Today, most textbooks on ‘Organizational Behavior’ include this as do most training programs for managers on ‘Communication Skills.’ Of course, Harvard Business School also must be includes it in their curriculum.

Translation(s)

As we find forms around clearly mirrored in crystal, similarly the face will show what is throbbing in the mind.

Explanation

Scientifically the above fact was established for the first time in 1872 AD, more than a thousand years after Thiru-valluvar composed the above couplet:

“The first scientific study of nonverbal communication was Charles Darwin's book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872). He argued that all mammals show emotion reliably in their faces. Studies now range across a number of fields, including sex linguistics, semiotics and social psychology.”
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication , retrieved on 7th Apr 2008.

Translation(s)

What has more prescient skill (skill to foretell) than speaking countenance? Rejoice or burn with rage, it is the first to herald still.

Explanation

Modern scientific research has now confirmed that simply observing the face can tell us quite a few things. Here is what Paul Ekman, considered one of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th century writes in conclusion:

"I have suggested that seven different classes of information may be conveyed by a facial expression of emotion: antecedents; thoughts; internal state; a metaphor; what the expresser is likely to do next; what the expresser wants the perceiver to do; or an emotion word. I have also argued that facial expressions of emotion are involuntary, although we can voluntarily try to interfere or disguise these expressions."

- Should We Call it Expression or Communication? - by Paul Ekman, Innovations in Social Science Research, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 333-344, 1997.
http://www.paulekman.com/downloadablearticles.html , retrieved on 7th Apr 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ekman , retrieved on 7th Apr 2008.]

Translation(s)

When men can look within and know the lurking thought, to see the face is quite enough when brought in presence.

 

Translation(s)

To those who know to scan the eye’s swift varying moods, the eye speaks out the hate or friendly soul of man.

 

Translation(s)

The men of keen discerning soul apply no other test (when you ask their secret) than man’s revealing eye.

Explanation

This chapter is about non-verbal communication. Modern behavioral science has experimentally established the importance of non-verbal communication, its ability to reveal emotions, and some people’s read such emotions and even the ability to catch lying by observing non-verbal communications.

Night & Lighted View,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari, India
Credit: R.O.Y., Flickr

References