Tirukkural Chapter 23 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 23 - ஈகை
CHAPTER 23 - ON LIBERALITY
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23/01. வறியார்க்கொன்று ஈவதே ஈகை; மற்று எல்லாம்
குறிஎதிர்ப்பை நீரது உடைத்து.

23/01. Variyaarkkondru eevadhe eegai; matrru ellaam
Kurriedhirppai neeradhu udaiththu.

23/01. To give what a poor man in need is the liberal gift
Others things given belong to barter deals.
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Disciple: Guruji, A friend in need is a friend indeed, they say.

Guru: Here, a donor who gives,
What a poor man really wants,
It's taken as a liberal gift,
And other things are not.

If a hungry man wants to eat,
If the donor gives him a hat,
It's not a liberal gift
As he cannot eat it.

If a donor gives one food to eat,
And ask him to clean his flat,
The food given is not liberal
But it belongs to a barter deal.
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23/02. நல்லாறு எனினும் கொளல்தீது; மேல்உலகம்
இல்எனினும் ஈதலே நன்று.

23/02. Nallaarru eninum kollaltheedhu; melulagam
Ileninum eedhale nandrru.

23/02. If a person says that it's good for one to take things from others, it's bad.
If one says by donating liberally, one will not go to heaven, but still it's good.
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Disciple: Guruji, What's wrong in taking and good in giving things?

Guru: Taking from others things
Is like begging from them,
While giving liberally things
Is like gifts given to them.

Taking freely from others is bad.
Giving freely to poor is good.
Thus what is good and bad
Here it's clearly said.

Even if the road to heaven
Is not meant for anyone,
Who gives liberal gifts,
Yet, this is the best one.
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23/03. இலன்என்னும் எல்லாம் உரையாமை ஈதல்
குலன்உடையான் கண்ணே உள.

23/03. Ilanennum ellaam uraiyaamai eedhal
Kulanudaiyaan kanne ulla.

23/03. It is the good nature of a person from a high class family
To give what one wants without saying 'No' to him.
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Disciple: Guruji, who'll give liberal gifts to others?

Guru: If a person is born in a high class family,
He'll be more liberal minded generally,
To give what anyone wants,
Without saying ‘No' to his requests.

This is only a general observation.
It's not that anyone born
In other families has no heart,
To give others what they want.

It depends upon individuals
Born in any families
To be liberal minded
To help others unasked.
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