Thirukkural 226 in English

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

Tamil original

அற்றார் அழிபசி தீர்த்தல் அஃதொருவன்
பெற்றான் பொருள்வைப் புழி.

Transliteration

Atraar Azhipasi Theerththal Aqdhoruvan
Petraan Porulvaip Puzhi

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The removal of the killing hunger of the poor is the place for one to lay up his wealth

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Let man relieve the wasting hunger men endure;For treasure gained thus finds he treasure-house secure

Plain-English Meaning

The removal of the killing hunger of the poor is the place for one to lay up his wealth

ஏதும் இல்லாதவரின் கடும்பசியைத் தீர்த்து வையுங்கள். பொருளைப் பெற்றவன் சேமித்து வைக்கும் இடம் அதுவே.

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