Thirukkural 1007 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அற்றார்க்கொன்று ஆற்றாதான் செல்வம் மிகநலம்
பெற்றாள் தமியள்மூத் தற்று.
Transliteration
Atraarkkondru Aatraadhaan Selvam Mikanalam
Petraal Thamiyalmooth Thatru
Modern English
“Wealth that never helps people in need is like a beautiful opportunity kept locked away until its value is lost.”
Modern Interpretation
Wealth that never helps people in need is like a beautiful opportunity kept locked away until its value is lost. For example, a well-funded scholarship that is never offered cannot change a student's life.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Wealth that never helps people in need is like a beautiful opportunity kept locked away until its value is lost.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who loaths to help have-nots, his gold Is like a spinster-belle grown old
G.U. Pope Translation
Like woman fair in lonelihood who aged grows,Is wealth of him on needy men who nought bestows
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The wealth of him who never bestows anything on the destitute is like a woman of beauty growing old without a husband
Tamil commentary
ஏதும் இல்லாதவர்க்கு ஏதாவது ஒன்றைக் கொடுத்து உதவாதவன் செல்வம், மிகுந்த அழகு பெற்ற பெண், திருமணமாகாமலே முதுமை அடைந்தது போலாம்.
Chapter 101
More from Wealth without Benefaction
நன்றியில் செல்வம்
Dead is he with wealth in pile Unenjoyed, it is futile
Kural 1002The niggard miser thinks wealth is all He hoards, gives not is born devil
Kural 1003A burden he is to earth indeed Who hoards without a worthy deed
Kural 1004What legacy can he leave behind Who is for approach too unkind
Kural 1005What is the good of crores they hoard To give and enjoy whose heart is hard
Kural 1006Great wealth unused for oneself nor To worthy men is but a slur
Kural 1007Who loaths to help have-nots, his gold Is like a spinster-belle grown old
Kural 1008The idle wealth of unsought men Is poison-fruit-tree amidst a town
Kural 1009Others usurp the shining gold In loveless, stingy, vicious hold
Kural 1010The brief want of the rich benign Is like rainclouds growing thin