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

English Translation

“Nothing is more painful than death Yet more is pain of giftless dearth”

Plain-English meaning

Nothing is more unpleasant than death: yet even that is pleasant where charity cannot be exercised

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

Nothing is more unpleasant than death: yet even that is pleasant where charity cannot be exercised

சாவதை விடத் துன்பமானது வேறொன்றும் இல்லை, ஆனால் வறியவர்க்கு ஒரு பொருள் கொடுக்க முடியாதநிலை வந்தபோது அச் சாதலும் இனியதே ஆகும்.

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