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

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

To see men begging from us in disagreeable, until we see their pleasant countenance

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

To see men begging from us in disagreeable, until we see their pleasant countenance

கொடுக்க இருப்பவரின் நிலைகூட தம்மிடம் வந்து யாசித்து நிற்பவரின் மலர்ந்த முகத்தைக் காணும் வரை கொடியதே.

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