Gratitude
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utavi varaittaṉṟu utavi utavi / seyappaṭṭār sālpiṉ varaittu
“The kindly aid's extent is of its worth no measure true; / Its worth is as the worth of him to whom the act you do.”
“Gratitude is not limited by the assistance given: it is bounded only by the nobility of him that receiveth it.”
What is owed for a help is not set by the size of the help, but by the worth of the one who received it.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உதவி உதவி வரைத்து அன்று = கைம்மாறான உதவி காரணத்தானும் பொருளானும் காலத்தானும் ஆகிய மூவகையானும் முன்செய்த உதவி அளவிற்று அன்று; உதவி செயப்பட்டார் சால்பின் வரைத்து = அதனைச் செய்வித்துக் கொண்டவர்தம் அமைதி அளவிற்று. (சால்பு எவ்வளவு பெரிதாயிற்று உதவியும் அவ்வளவு பெரிதாம்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The return owed for a help is not measured by the size of the help, but by the worth and nobility of the one who received it. A noble heart repays far beyond what it was given.