Thirukkural 221 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

வறியார்க்கொன்று ஈவதே ஈகைமற் றெல்லாம்
குறியெதிர்ப்பை நீர துடைத்து.

Transliteration

Variyaarkkondru Eevadhe Eekaimar Rellaam
Kuriyedhirppai Neera Thutaiththu

English Translation

“To give the poor is charity The rest is loan and vanity”

Plain-English meaning

To give to the destitute is true charity All other gifts have the nature of (what is done for) a measured return

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

To give the poor is charity The rest is loan and vanity

G.U. Pope Translation

Call that a gift to needy men thou dost dispense,All else is void of good, seeking for recompense

Plain-English Meaning

To give to the destitute is true charity All other gifts have the nature of (what is done for) a measured return

ஏதும் இல்லாதவர்க்குக் கொடுப்பதே ஈகை; பிற எல்லாம் கொடுத்ததைத் திரும்பப் பெறும் நோக்கம் உடையதே.

Chapter 23

ஈகை

To give the poor is charity The rest is loan and vanity

To beg is bad e'en from the good To give is good, were heaven forbid

No pleading, \"I am nothing worth,\" But giving marks a noble birth

The cry for alms is painful sight Until the giver sees him bright

Higher's power which hunger cures Than that of penance which endures

Drive from the poor their gnawing pains If room you seek to store your gains

Who shares his food with those who need Hunger shall not harm his creed

The joy of give and take they lose Hard-hearted rich whose hoarding fails

Worse than begging is that boarding Alone what one's greed is hoarding

Nothing is more painful than death Yet more is pain of giftless dearth