Begging
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irakka virattakkārk kāṇiṟ karappi / ṉavarpaḻi tampaḻi yaṉṟu.
“When those you find from whom 'tis meet to ask,- for aid apply; / Theirs is the sin, not yours, if they the gift deny.”
“Thou mayest beg if thou seest men that can afford to do charity: if they feign inability, it is their fault, not thine.”
One may ask help from those worthy of asking; if they refuse, the blame is theirs alone.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இரத்தக்கார் காணின் இரக்க= நல்கூர்ந்தார் இரத்தற்கு ஏற்புடையாரைக் காணில், அவர்மாட்டு இரக்க; கரப்பின் அவர் பழி தம் பழி அன்று= இரந்தால் அவர் கரந்தாராயின், அவர்க்குப் பழியாவதல்லது தமக்குப் பழியாகாமையான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those in need may freely ask assistance from those worthy of being asked; if such a person conceals what they have and denies aid, the dishonor belongs solely to the refuser, not to the one who asked.