Thirukkural 1055 in English

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

Tamil original

கரப்பிலார் வையகத்து உண்மையால் கண்ணின்று
இரப்பவர் மேற்கொள் வது.

Transliteration

Karappilaar Vaiyakaththu Unmaiyaal Kannindru
Irappavar Merkol Vadhu

Modern English

“People ask because generous people exist who give without making them feel small.”

Modern Interpretation

People ask because generous people exist who give without making them feel small. A family may seek help from a community kitchen because volunteers are ready to share what they have.

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Compare translations

Modern Plain English

People ask because generous people exist who give without making them feel small.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

The needy demand for help because The world has men who don't refuse

G.U. Pope Translation

Because on earth the men exist, who never say them nay,Men bear to stand before their eyes for help to pray

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

As there are in the world those that give without refusing, there are (also) those that prefer to beg by simply standing before them

Tamil commentary

கண் எதிரே நின்று, வறுமைப்பட்டவர் வாயால் கேட்காமல் கண்ணால் கேட்கத் தொடங்குவது, ஒளிவுமறைவு இல்லாமல் அவருக்குக் கொடுப்பவர் இவ்வுலகத்தில் இருப்பதால்தான்.

Chapter 106

More from Mendicancy

இரவு

Read all 10 Kurals →