Tirukkural Chapter 11 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 11 - செய்ந்நன்றி அறிதல்
CHAPTER 11 - GRATITUDE
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11/01. செய்யாமல் செய்த உதவிக்கு வையகமும்
வானகமும் ஆற்றல் அரிது.

11/01. Seiyaamal seidha udhaviku vaiyagamum
Vaanagamum aatral aridhu.

11/01. Someone had helped expecting no return,
For whom even the earth and heaven cannot compensate.
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Disciple: Oh Guru, how help rendered is valued?

Guru: There are many persons
Who voluntarily help others
Not for monetary consideration,
Nor for any kind, in return.

With all their goodness
They do it in silence.
That shows their generosity
Without any publicity

For such noble persons,
The doors of Heaven is open,
As God surely helps those,
Who help distressed persons.
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11/02. காலத்தி னால்செய்த நன்றி சிறிதெனினும்
ஞாலத்தின் மாணப் பெரிது.

11/02. Kaalathi naalseidha nantri siridheninum
Gnalaththin Mannap peridhu.

11/02. When danger attacked a person, another one helped him
In a small way, but it is great in the world.
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Disciple: No help is a small help when it is done timely.

Guru: When there is a natural calamity
People rush to help victims out of pity.
They don't watch and wait,
But jump into the affected site.

A squirrel rolled on sand
And dropped that sand
Over the bridge built by Rama
To cross over to Lanka.

Rama touched its back
With His three fingers
As a reward and this mark
Is found even now on its back.

So nothing is big or small
In the eyes of God,
But it appears small,
In the eyes of a stupid.
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11/03. பயன்தூக்கார் செய்த உதவி நயன்தூக்கின்
நன்மை கடலிற் பெரிது.

11/03. Payanthookkaar seidha udhavi nayanthookkin
Nanmai kadalirr peridhu.

11/03. Expecting no return, if one perform good deed,
That deed is bigger than the ocean.
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Disciple: Is there anyone who does good deed for no return?

Guru: There may be a few persons,
On this earth doing good deeds,
Without expecting anything in return,
But, by and large, many expect in return.

Even in the temple visits
With God they ask for returns
For something given
And with God they bargain.

'I've dropped currency notes
In your hundi, let my son pass
As a topper in his examination,
I shall give you more than this.'

If someone gives a beggar a coin,
He expects something in return,
Not from the poor beggar,
But from a lottery something bigger.
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