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Kural No. 222 · Virtue (Aram) · Ch 23

Giving

ஈகை
Original Kural · ஓலைச்சுவடி
நல்லாறு எனினும் கொளல்தீது மேலுலகம்
இல்லெனினும் ஈதலே நன்று.

Nallaaru Eninum Kolaldheedhu Melulakam / Illeninum Eedhale Nandru

Classical English couplet — “Though men declare it heavenward path, yet to receive is ill;Though upper heaven were not, to give is virtue still”

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A
Simple English Meaning

What it says in plain words

“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”

B
எளிய தமிழ் விளக்கம் · Simple Tamil Interpretation

The classical Tamil reading

பிறரிடம் பொருள் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளுதல் நல்ல நெறி என்றாலும் கொள்ளல் தீமையானது, மேலுலகம் இல்லை என்றாலும் பிறக்குக் கொடுப்பதே சிறந்தது.

C
ஆழமான தமிழ் விளக்கம் · Deeper Tamil Commentary

An expanded Tamil interpretation

பிறரிடமிருந்து நல்வழியில் பொருளைப் பெற்றாலும் அது பெருமையல்ல; சிறுமையே ஆகும் கொடை வழங்குவதால் மேலுலகம் என்று சொல்லப்படுவது கிட்டிவிடப் போவதில்லை; எனினும் பிறர்க்குக் கொடுத்து வாழ்வதே சிறந்த வாழ்க்கையாகும்

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