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

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The wise who know what is duty will not scant their benevolence even when they are without wealth

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

The wise who know what is duty will not scant their benevolence even when they are without wealth

செய்யவேண்டிய கடமையை அறிந்த அறிவாளிகள், தம்மிடம் கொடுக்க இடம் இல்லாக் காலத்திலும், உழைக்கும் சக்தி அற்றவர்க்கு உதவத் தயங்க மாட்டார்கள்.

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