Thirukkural 227 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பாத்தூண் மரீஇ யவனைப் பசியென்னும்
தீப்பிணி தீண்டல் அரிது.
Transliteration
Paaththoon Mareei Yavanaip Pasiyennum
Theeppini Theental Aridhu
Modern English
“Someone who's in the habit of sharing their food rarely has to face real hunger themselves.”
Modern Interpretation
Someone who's in the habit of sharing their food rarely has to face real hunger themselves. Generosity has a way of coming back around. For example, a family that always sets an extra place at the table for whoever needs it tends to find help arriving exactly when they need it most.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Someone who's in the habit of sharing their food rarely has to face real hunger themselves.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who shares his food with those who need Hunger shall not harm his creed
G.U. Pope Translation
Whose soul delights with hungry men to share his meal,The hand of hunger's sickness sore shall never feel
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The fiery disease of hunger shall never touch him who habitually distributes his food to others
Tamil commentary
பலருடனும் பகிர்ந்து உண்ணப் பழகியவனைப் பசி என்னும் கொடிய நோய் தொடுவதும் அரிது.
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