Tirukural – Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Understanding One’s Duty to Give
Verse 211
A man and woman are distributing food and clothing to impoverished people in the marketplace. Elsewhere they feed the hungry. Above, rain clouds gather at the distance and citizens offer their gratitude for the life-giving waters.
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Weaver’s Wisdom
Verse 211
The benevolent expect no return for their dutiful giving.
How can the world ever repay the rain cloud?
Verse 212
It is to meet the needs of the deserving
that the worthy work so hard to acquire wealth.
Verse 213
Of all duties, none is better than benevolence,
whether in this world or that of the Gods.
Verse 214
He who understands the duty of giving truly lives.
All others shall be counted among the dead.
Verse 215
The wealth of a community-loving wise man
may be likened to a well-filled village water tank.
Verse 216
Riches retained by the big-hearted resemble fruits
ripening on a tree in the heart of a village.
Verse 217
In the hands of a generous man,
wealth is like a medicinal tree whose healing gifts help all.
Verse 218
Those who know duty deeply never neglect giving,
even in their own unprosperous season.
Verse 219
The benevolent man considers himself poor only
when he is unable to render his accustomed duty to humanity.
Verse 220
Were it said that loss of wealth is the price of generosity,
such loss would be worth selling one’s self to acquire.
2 Responses to “Tirukural – Chapter 22”
From Our Gurus' Teachings
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February 8th, 2021 at 10:11 pm
“AUM”!.
February 15th, 2021 at 6:06 am
Thank you.