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
Modern English
“The wealth of a truly generous, wise person works like a village pond full of water, everyone in the community gets to draw from it.”
Modern Interpretation
The wealth of a truly generous, wise person works like a village pond full of water, everyone in the community gets to draw from it. Their success ends up shared, not hoarded. For example, a successful business owner who funds scholarships and local projects turns personal wealth into something the whole neighborhood benefits from.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The wealth of a truly generous, wise person works like a village pond full of water, everyone in the community gets to draw from it.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
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
Tamil commentary
உலகின் வளர்ச்சிப் போக்கை அறிந்து செயற்படும் பேர் அறிவாளனின் செல்வம், நீர் நிறைந்த ஊருணி எல்லார்க்கும் பொதுவாவது போல் பொதுவாகும்.
Chapter 22
More from Duty to Society
ஒப்புரவறிதல்
Duty demands nothing in turn; How can the world recompense rain?
Kural 212All the wealth that toils give Is meant to serve those who deserve
Kural 213In heav'n and earth 'tis hard to find A greater good than being kind
Kural 214He lives who knows befitting act Others are deemed as dead in fact
Kural 215The wealth that wise and kind do make Is like water that fills a lake
Kural 216Who plenty gets and plenty gives Is like town-tree teeming with fruits
Kural 217The wealth of a wide-hearted soul Is a herbal tree that healeth all
Kural 218Though seers may fall on evil days Their sense of duty never strays
Kural 219The good man's poverty and grief Is want of means to give relief
Kural 220By good if ruin comes across Sell yourself to save that loss