Thirukkural 224 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இன்னாது இரக்கப் படுதல் இரந்தவர்
இன்முகங் காணும் அளவு.
Transliteration
Innaadhu Irakkap Patudhal Irandhavar
Inmukang Kaanum Alavu
Modern English
“Being asked for help can feel awkward at first, but that discomfort disappears the moment you see the relief on the other person's face.”
Modern Interpretation
Being asked for help can feel awkward at first, but that discomfort disappears the moment you see the relief on the other person's face. The good feeling that follows outweighs the initial hesitation. For example, someone unsure about lending money to a friend often forgets that hesitation entirely once they see how much it actually helped.
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Modern Plain English
Being asked for help can feel awkward at first, but that discomfort disappears the moment you see the relief on the other person's face.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The cry for alms is painful sight Until the giver sees him bright
G.U. Pope Translation
The suppliants' cry for aid yields scant delight,Until you see his face with grateful gladness bright
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
To see men begging from us in disagreeable, until we see their pleasant countenance
Tamil commentary
கொடுக்க இருப்பவரின் நிலைகூட தம்மிடம் வந்து யாசித்து நிற்பவரின் மலர்ந்த முகத்தைக் காணும் வரை கொடியதே.
Chapter 23
More from Giving
ஈகை
To give the poor is charity The rest is loan and vanity
Kural 222To beg is bad e'en from the good To give is good, were heaven forbid
Kural 223No pleading, \"I am nothing worth,\" But giving marks a noble birth
Kural 224The cry for alms is painful sight Until the giver sees him bright
Kural 225Higher's power which hunger cures Than that of penance which endures
Kural 226Drive from the poor their gnawing pains If room you seek to store your gains
Kural 227Who shares his food with those who need Hunger shall not harm his creed
Kural 228The joy of give and take they lose Hard-hearted rich whose hoarding fails
Kural 229Worse than begging is that boarding Alone what one's greed is hoarding
Kural 230Nothing is more painful than death Yet more is pain of giftless dearth