Thirukkural 104 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

தினைத்துணை நன்றி செயினும் பனைத்துணையாக்
கொள்வர் பயன்தெரி வார்.

Transliteration

Thinaiththunai Nandri Seyinum Panaiththunaiyaak
Kolvar Payandheri Vaar

English Translation

“Help given though millet-small Knowers count its good palm-tree tall”

Plain-English meaning

Though the benefit conferred be as small as a millet seed, those who know its advantage will consider it as large as a palmyra fruit

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Help given though millet-small Knowers count its good palm-tree tall

G.U. Pope Translation

Each benefit to those of actions' fruit who rightly deem,Though small as millet-seed, as palm-tree vast will seem

Plain-English Meaning

Though the benefit conferred be as small as a millet seed, those who know its advantage will consider it as large as a palmyra fruit

தினை அளவாக மிகச் சிறிய உதவியே செய்யப்பெற்றிருந்தாலும் உதவியின் பயனை நன்கு அறிந்தவர் அதைப் பனை அளவு மிகப் பெரிய உதவியாய்க் கருதுவர்

Chapter 11

செய்ந்நன்றியறிதல்

Unhelped in turn good help given Exceeds in worth earth and heaven

A help rendered in hour of need Though small is greater than the world

Help rendered without weighing fruits Outweighs the sea in grand effects

Help given though millet-small Knowers count its good palm-tree tall

A help is not the help's measure It is gainer's worth and pleasure

Forget not friendship of the pure Forsake not timely helpers sure

Through sevenfold births, in memory fares The willing friend who wiped one's tears

To forget good turns is not good Good it is over wrong not to brood

Let deadly harms be forgotten While remembering one good-turn

The virtue-killer may be saved Not benefit-killer who is damned