Thirukkural 229 in English

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

Tamil original

இரத்தலின் இன்னாது மன்ற நிரப்பிய
தாமே தமியர் உணல்.

Transliteration

Iraththalin Innaadhu Mandra Nirappiya
Thaame Thamiyar Unal

English Translation

“Worse than begging is that boarding Alone what one's greed is hoarding”

Plain-English meaning

Solitary and unshared eating for the sake of filling up one's own riches is certainly much more

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Worse than begging is that boarding Alone what one's greed is hoarding

G.U. Pope Translation

They keep their garners full, for self alone the board they spread;-'Tis greater pain, be sure, than begging daily bread

Plain-English Meaning

Solitary and unshared eating for the sake of filling up one's own riches is certainly much more

பொருளைப் பெருக்க எண்ணி, எவருக்கும் தராமல், தானே தனித்து உண்பது, பிறரிடம் கை ஏந்துவதைவிடக் கொடியது.

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