Thirukkural 230 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
சாதலின் இன்னாத தில்லை இனிததூஉம்
ஈதல் இயையாக் கடை.
Transliteration
Saadhalin Innaadha Thillai Inidhadhooum
Eedhal Iyaiyaak Katai
Modern English
“Death is about as painful as it gets, yet even that can feel more bearable than the helplessness of having nothing to give someone who desperately needs it.”
Modern Interpretation
Death is about as painful as it gets, yet even that can feel more bearable than the helplessness of having nothing to give someone who desperately needs it. Watching someone suffer while you're powerless to help cuts deep. For example, seeing a close friend struggle while your own pockets are empty can hurt more than you'd expect.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Death is about as painful as it gets, yet even that can feel more bearable than the helplessness of having nothing to give someone who desperately needs it.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Nothing is more painful than death Yet more is pain of giftless dearth
G.U. Pope Translation
'Tis bitter pain to die, 'Tis worse to live.For him who nothing finds to give
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Nothing is more unpleasant than death: yet even that is pleasant where charity cannot be exercised
Tamil commentary
சாவதை விடத் துன்பமானது வேறொன்றும் இல்லை, ஆனால் வறியவர்க்கு ஒரு பொருள் கொடுக்க முடியாதநிலை வந்தபோது அச் சாதலும் இனியதே ஆகும்.
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