Begging
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karappilā neñciṟ kaṭaṉaṟivār muṉṉiṉ / ṟirappumō rēe ruṭaittu.
“The men who nought deny, but know what's due, before their face / To stand as suppliants affords especial grace.”
“There is a charm even in begging, at the hands of those who understand their duty and do not falsely pretend inability to help.”
To stand and ask help from open-hearted people who know duty carries a dignity of its own.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கரப்பிலா நெஞ்சின் கடன் அறிவார் முன் நின்று இரப்பும்= கரத்தல் இல்லா நெஞ்சினை உடைய மானம் அறிவார் முன்னர் நின்று அவர் மாட்டு ஒன்று இரத்தலும்; ஓர் ஏஎர் உடைத்து= நல்கூர்ந்தார்க்கு ஓர் அழகு உடைத்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Standing before open-hearted people who know their moral duty and asking them for aid carries an honorable dignity of its own for the poor.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review