Thirukkural 218 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இடனில் பருவத்தும் ஒப்புரவிற்கு ஒல்கார்
கடனறி காட்சி யவர்.
Transliteration
Itanil Paruvaththum Oppuravirku Olkaar
Katanari Kaatchi Yavar
Modern English
“People who truly understand their duty to others don't stop helping just because their own resources are running low.”
Modern Interpretation
People who truly understand their duty to others don't stop helping just because their own resources are running low. Real commitment to others doesn't depend on convenience. For example, a family going through a tough financial patch might still find a way to share a meal with someone who has even less.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People who truly understand their duty to others don't stop helping just because their own resources are running low.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Though seers may fall on evil days Their sense of duty never strays
G.U. Pope Translation
E'en when resources fall, they weary not of 'kindness due,'-They to whom Duty's self appears in vision true
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The wise who know what is duty will not scant their benevolence even when they are without wealth
Tamil commentary
செய்யவேண்டிய கடமையை அறிந்த அறிவாளிகள், தம்மிடம் கொடுக்க இடம் இல்லாக் காலத்திலும், உழைக்கும் சக்தி அற்றவர்க்கு உதவத் தயங்க மாட்டார்கள்.
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