Hospitality
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iṉaittuṇaittu eṉbadu oṉṟu illai virundiṉ / tuṇaittuṇai vēḷvip payaṉ
“To reckon up the fruit of kindly deeds were all in vain; Their worth is as the worth of guests you entertain.”
“We cannot say of any hospitable act by itself, So much is the merit of this act: it is the worth of the guest that is the measure of the sacrifice.”
The spiritual reward of hospitality cannot be measured; its bounty is as great as the worthy character of the guest.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வேள்விப்பயன் இனைத்துணைத்து என்பது ஒன்று இல்லை = விருந்தோம்பலாகிய வேள்வியின் பயன் இன்ன அளவிற்று என்பதோர் அளவு உடைத்து அன்று; விருந்தின் துணைத்துணை = அதற்கு அவ்விருந்தின் தகுதியளவே அளவு. (ஐம்பெரு வேள்வியின் ஒன்றாகலின் 'வேள்வி' என்றார்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The fruit of the sacred sacrifice of hospitality has no fixed measure; its worth is as great as the spiritual stature of the guest received.