Thirukkural 228 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஈத்துவக்கும் இன்பம் அறியார்கொல் தாமுடைமை
வைத்திழக்கும் வன்க ணவர்.
Transliteration
Eeththuvakkum Inpam Ariyaarkol Thaamutaimai
Vaiththizhakkum Vanka Navar
Modern English
“People who hoard everything only to eventually lose it anyway seem to have no idea what they're missing out on, the genuine joy that comes from giving.”
Modern Interpretation
People who hoard everything only to eventually lose it anyway seem to have no idea what they're missing out on, the genuine joy that comes from giving. Holding on too tightly can cost more than it saves. For example, someone who never shares and later loses everything to bad luck realizes too late that the joy of generosity was there for the taking all along.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People who hoard everything only to eventually lose it anyway seem to have no idea what they're missing out on, the genuine joy that comes from giving.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The joy of give and take they lose Hard-hearted rich whose hoarding fails
G.U. Pope Translation
Delight of glad'ning human hearts with gifts do they not know.Men of unpitying eye, who hoard their wealth and lose it so
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Do the hard-eyed who lay up and lose their possessions not know the happiness which springs from the pleasure of giving ?
Tamil commentary
இல்லாதவர்க்குக் கொடுப்பதால் கொடுப்பவரும் பெறுபவரும் முகத்தாலும் மனத்தாலும் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைவர். பிறர்க்குக் கொடுக்காமல் பொருளைச் சேமித்து வைத்துப் பிறகு அதை இழந்துவிடும் கொடியவர்கள் அம்மகிழ்சியை அறியார்களோ?
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