Giving
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nallā ṟeṉiṉuṅ koḷaṟītu mēlulakam / illeṉiṉu mītalē naṉṟu
“Though men declare it heavenward path, yet to receive is ill; / Though upper heaven were not, to give is virtue still.”
“Though it lead unto heaven, receiving is bad: and though heaven should be denied to the giver, giving alms is a virtue.”
Even if receiving from others were praised as a good path, it is still demeaning; even if there were no heavenly reward, giving to others remains supreme.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கொளல் நல் ஆறு எனினும் தீது= ஏற்றல் வீட்டுலகிற்கு நல்லநெறி என்பார் உளராயினும் அது தீது; மேல் உலகம் இல் எனினும் ஈதலே நன்று= ஈந்தார்க்கு அவ்வுலகு எய்துதல் இல்லை என்பார் உளராயினும் ஈதலே நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even if receiving from others were praised as a good path, it is still demeaning; even if there were no heavenly reward, giving to others remains supreme.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review