Tirukkural Chapter 04 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 4 - துறவின் சிறப்பு
CHAPTER 4 - ON DHARMA
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04/04. மனத்துக்கண் மாசிலன் ஆதல்; அனைத்தறன்;
ஆகுல நீரபிற.

04/04. Manathukkan Maasilan aadhal; anaitharran;
Aakula neera pirra.

04/04. Charity done with a criminal intention
Is not all charity, but it's just a pomp and show.
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Son: Maa, I have seen many people give
Charity, but they make a big publicity of it.

Maa: Left hand should not know
What right hand gives in charity.
This is the norm for any charity,
Without any kind of publicity.

If there is any publicity,
It is business and not charity.
It is like, 'If I give you something,
What you'll give me in return? '

For example:

In temples' free tube-light-frames,
One can find big-big names.
It is just for publicity
And not meant for charity.
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04/05. அழுக்காறு அவாவெகுளி இன்னாச்சொல் நான்கும்
இழுக்கா இயன்றது அறம்.

04/05. Azhukkaaru avaaveguli innaachol naangum
Izhukkaa iyanradhu arram.

04/05. The best charity should be free from
Jealousy, greediness, anger, harsh words.
***
Son: Maa, Beggars are not choosers. They get
Charity from any source for their livelihood.

Mother: There is a poem in Tamil. It is like this:

'Please give me charity, ' to beg is inferior
'I won't give you charity, ' to say is still inferior
'Please take this free, ' to say is superior
'I won't take it free, ' to say is still superior.

Some people say:

'If I come to your house
What will you give me?
If you come to my house
What will you bring me? '

Grains are charity from God
But some hoard food-grains
With a view to sell
At an unfair price.

Will God pardon them?
Yet they worship God.
And do this crime
Consciously every time.
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04/06. அன்றறிவாம் என்னாது அறம்செய்க; மற்றது
பொன்றுங்கால் பொன்றாத் துணை.

04/06. Anrarivaam ennaadhu aramseiga; mattradhu
Ponrungkaal ponraath thunai.

04/06. Give charity, not later when you're old,
But now, that'll follow you when you die.
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Son: 'Come tomorrow, ' some say to give charity.

Mother: Yes, what is he guarantee,
Either the giver or the taker
Will be alive on the next day
To give and take charity?

If you want to give tomorrow
You give it today
If you want give it today,
You give it now itself.

For anyone life is not sure
Any moment, anywhere;
So, better postpone not
To give whatever you want.
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