Thirukkural 220 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒப்புரவி னால்வரும் கேடெனின் அஃதொருவன்
விற்றுக்கோள் தக்க துடைத்து.
Transliteration
Oppuravi Naalvarum Ketenin Aqdhoruvan
Vitrukkol Thakka Thutaiththu
Modern English
“Even if helping others somehow costs you dearly, that cost is worth paying, because that's how valuable genuine generosity really is.”
Modern Interpretation
Even if helping others somehow costs you dearly, that cost is worth paying, because that's how valuable genuine generosity really is. Some sacrifices are worth making without hesitation. For example, someone who takes on real hardship to support a friend through a crisis rarely regrets it, even when it means going without themselves.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Even if helping others somehow costs you dearly, that cost is worth paying, because that's how valuable genuine generosity really is.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
By good if ruin comes across Sell yourself to save that loss
G.U. Pope Translation
Though by 'beneficence,' the loss of all should come,'Twere meet man sold himself, and bought it with the sum
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If it be said that loss will result from benevolence, such loss is worth being procured even by the sale of one's self
Tamil commentary
இருப்பதைப் பிறர்க்குக் கொடுத்துவிட்டால், நாளை நமக்குத் தீமை வருமே என்று சொன்னால், தன்னையே விலையாகக் கொடுத்து அந்தத் தீமை வாங்கத்தக்கதே.
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