Thirukkural 215 in English

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

Tamil original

ஊருணி நீர்நிறைந் தற்றே உலகவாம்
பேரறி வாளன் திரு.

Transliteration

Ooruni Neernirain Thatre Ulakavaam
Perari Vaalan Thiru

English Translation

“The wealth that wise and kind do make Is like water that fills a lake”

Plain-English meaning

The wealth of that man of eminent knowledge who desires to exercise the benevolence approved of by the world, is like the full waters of a city-tank

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

The wealth that wise and kind do make Is like water that fills a lake

G.U. Pope Translation

The wealth of men who love the 'fitting way,' the truly wise,Is as when water fills the lake that village needs supplies

Plain-English Meaning

The wealth of that man of eminent knowledge who desires to exercise the benevolence approved of by the world, is like the full waters of a city-tank

உலகின் வளர்ச்சிப் போக்கை அறிந்து செயற்படும் பேர் அறிவாளனின் செல்வம், நீர் நிறைந்த ஊருணி எல்லார்க்கும் பொதுவாவது போல் பொதுவாகும்.

Chapter 22

ஒப்புரவறிதல்

Duty demands nothing in turn; How can the world recompense rain?

All the wealth that toils give Is meant to serve those who deserve

In heav'n and earth 'tis hard to find A greater good than being kind

He lives who knows befitting act Others are deemed as dead in fact

The wealth that wise and kind do make Is like water that fills a lake

Who plenty gets and plenty gives Is like town-tree teeming with fruits

The wealth of a wide-hearted soul Is a herbal tree that healeth all

Though seers may fall on evil days Their sense of duty never strays

The good man's poverty and grief Is want of means to give relief

By good if ruin comes across Sell yourself to save that loss