Thirukkural 217 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மருந்தாகித் தப்பா மரத்தற்றால் செல்வம்
பெருந்தகை யான்கண் படின்.
Transliteration
Marundhaakith Thappaa Maraththatraal Selvam
Perundhakai Yaankan Patin
Modern English
“Wealth in the hands of a genuinely noble person becomes like a tree whose every part turns out to be useful, even medicinal.”
Modern Interpretation
Wealth in the hands of a genuinely noble person becomes like a tree whose every part turns out to be useful, even medicinal. Nothing about their success goes to waste. For example, a wealthy doctor who quietly funds free clinics turns money into something that heals people far beyond their own life.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Wealth in the hands of a genuinely noble person becomes like a tree whose every part turns out to be useful, even medicinal.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The wealth of a wide-hearted soul Is a herbal tree that healeth all
G.U. Pope Translation
Unfailing tree that healing balm distils from every part,Is ample wealth that falls to him of large and noble heart
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If wealth be in the possession of a man who has the great excellence (of benevolence), it is like a tree which as a medicine is an infallible cure for disease
Tamil commentary
பெரும் பண்பாளனிடம் சேரும் செல்வம், எல்லா உறுப்புகளாலும் மருந்து ஆகிப் பயன்படுவதிலிருந்து தப்பாத மரம் போலப் 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