The Dread of Begging
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karavā tuvantīyuṅ kaṇṇaṉṉār kaṇṇu / miravāmai kōṭi yuṟum.
“Ten million-fold 'tis greater gain, asking no alms to live, / Even from those, like eyes in worth, who nought concealing gladly give.”
“The man that beggeth not is ten million times worthier than he that beggeth, even though it be only at the hands of men that give lovingly and with all their heart.”
Refraining from begging, even from beloved friends who give gladly, is ten million times better than living on charity.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கரவாது உவந்து ஈயும் கண் அன்னார்கண்ணும் இரவாமை= தனக்குள்ளது கரவாது இவர் வரப்பெற்றோம் என்று உண்மகிழ்ந்து கொடுக்கும் கண் போலச் சிறந்தார் மாட்டும் இரவாதே ஒருவன் வறுமை கூர்தல்: கோடி உறும்= இரந்து செல்வம் எய்தலின் கோடிமடங்கு நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Refraining from asking for help—even from dearest friends who give generously with delight like one's own eyes—is ten million times better than acquiring wealth by begging.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review