Thirukkural 89 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உடைமையுள் இன்மை விருந்தோம்பல் ஓம்பா
மடமை மடவார்கண் உண்டு.
Transliteration
Utaimaiyul Inmai Virundhompal Ompaa
Matamai Matavaarkan Untu
Modern English
“A wealthy person who never welcomes or helps anyone is poor in an important sense.”
Modern Interpretation
A wealthy person who never welcomes or helps anyone is poor in an important sense. Money without generosity cannot create friendship, trust, or a sense of belonging. For example, a large house may contain every luxury and still feel empty if its owner refuses every guest and avoids every relationship.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
A wealthy person who never welcomes or helps anyone is poor in an important sense.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The man of wealth is poor indeed Whose folly fails the guest to feed
G.U. Pope Translation
To turn from guests is penury, though worldly goods abound;'Tis senseless folly, only with the senseless found
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
That stupidity which excercises no hospitality is poverty in the midst of wealth It is the property of the stupid
Tamil commentary
செல்வம் இருந்தும் வறுமையாய் வாழ்வது விருந்தினரைப் பேணாமல் வாழும் மடமையே. இது மூடரிடம் மட்டுமே இருக்கும்.
Chapter 9
More from Hospitality
விருந்தோம்பல்
Men set up home, toil and earn To tend the guests and do good turn
Kural 82To keep out guests cannot be good Albeit you eat nector-like food
Kural 83Who tends his guests day in and out His life in want never wears out
Kural 84The goddess of wealth will gladly rest Where smiles welcome the worthy guest
Kural 85Should his field be sown who first Feeds the guests and eats the rest?
Kural 86Who tends a guest and looks for next Is a welcome guest in heaven's feast
Kural 87Worth of the guest of quality Is worth of hospitality
Kural 88Who loathe guest-service one day cry: \"We toil and store; but life is dry\"
Kural 89The man of wealth is poor indeed Whose folly fails the guest to feed
Kural 90Anicham smelt withers: like that A wry-faced look withers the guest