Chapter 23: Giving

வறியார்க்கொன்று ஈவதே ஈகைமற் றெல்லாம்
குறியெதிர்ப்பை நீர துடைத்து.

Variyaarkkondru Eevadhe Eekaimar Rellaam
Kuriyedhirppai Neera Thutaiththu

To give the poor is charity The rest is loan and vanity

Meaning: To give to the destitute is true charity All other gifts have the nature of (what is done for) a measured return

நல்லாறு எனினும் கொளல்தீது மேலுலகம்
இல்லெனினும் ஈதலே நன்று.

Nallaaru Eninum Kolaldheedhu Melulakam
Illeninum Eedhale Nandru

To beg is bad e'en from the good To give is good, were heaven forbid

Meaning: To beg is evil, even though it were said that it is a good path (to heaven) To give is good, even though it were said that those who do so cannot obtain heaven

இலனென்னும் எவ்வம் உரையாமை ஈதல்
குலனுடையான் கண்ணே யுள.

Ilanennum Evvam Uraiyaamai Eedhal
Kulanutaiyaan Kanne Yula

No pleading, \"I am nothing worth,\" But giving marks a noble birth

Meaning: (Even in a low state) not to adopt the mean expedient of saying "I have nothing," but to give, is the characteristic of the mad of noble birth

இன்னாது இரக்கப் படுதல் இரந்தவர்
இன்முகங் காணும் அளவு.

Innaadhu Irakkap Patudhal Irandhavar
Inmukang Kaanum Alavu

The cry for alms is painful sight Until the giver sees him bright

Meaning: To see men begging from us in disagreeable, until we see their pleasant countenance

ஆற்றுவார் ஆற்றல் பசிஆற்றல் அப்பசியை
மாற்றுவார் ஆற்றலின் பின்.

Aatruvaar Aatral Pasiaatral Appasiyai
Maatruvaar Aatralin Pin

Higher's power which hunger cures Than that of penance which endures

Meaning: The power of those who perform penance is the power of enduring hunger It is inferior to the power of those who remove the hunger (of others)

அற்றார் அழிபசி தீர்த்தல் அஃதொருவன்
பெற்றான் பொருள்வைப் புழி.

Atraar Azhipasi Theerththal Aqdhoruvan
Petraan Porulvaip Puzhi

Drive from the poor their gnawing pains If room you seek to store your gains

Meaning: The removal of the killing hunger of the poor is the place for one to lay up his wealth

பாத்தூண் மரீஇ யவனைப் பசியென்னும்
தீப்பிணி தீண்டல் அரிது.

Paaththoon Mareei Yavanaip Pasiyennum
Theeppini Theental Aridhu

Who shares his food with those who need Hunger shall not harm his creed

Meaning: The fiery disease of hunger shall never touch him who habitually distributes his food to others

ஈத்துவக்கும் இன்பம் அறியார்கொல் தாமுடைமை
வைத்திழக்கும் வன்க ணவர்.

Eeththuvakkum Inpam Ariyaarkol Thaamutaimai
Vaiththizhakkum Vanka Navar

The joy of give and take they lose Hard-hearted rich whose hoarding fails

Meaning: Do the hard-eyed who lay up and lose their possessions not know the happiness which springs from the pleasure of giving ?

இரத்தலின் இன்னாது மன்ற நிரப்பிய
தாமே தமியர் உணல்.

Iraththalin Innaadhu Mandra Nirappiya
Thaame Thamiyar Unal

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

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

சாதலின் இன்னாத தில்லை இனிததூஉம்
ஈதல் இயையாக் கடை.

Saadhalin Innaadha Thillai Inidhadhooum
Eedhal Iyaiyaak Katai

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

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