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Kural 223

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ilaṉeṉṉu mevva muraiyāmai yītaṟ / kulaṉuṭaiyāṉ kaṇṇē yuḷa

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“'I've nought' is ne'er the high-born man's reply; / He gives to those who raise themselves that cry.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“It is only the highborn man that giveth without ever meanly saying, I have not.”

Modern readingAI draft

Giving to a person before they are forced to express the painful cry of poverty belongs only to those of noble character.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

இலன் என்னும் எவ்வம் உரையாமை= யான் வறியன் என்று இரப்பான் சொல்லும் இளிவரவைத் தான் பிறர்கண் சொல்லாமையும்; ஈதல்= அதனைத் தன்கண் சொன்னார்க்கு மாற்றாது ஈதலும்,; உள குலன் உடையான் கணணே= இவை இரண்டும் உளவாவன குடிப்பிறந்தான் கண்ணே.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Giving to a person before they are forced to express the painful cry of poverty belongs only to those of noble character.