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ஒப்புரவறிதல்: Duty to Society
About this chapter
ஒப்புரவறிதல், duty to society, is about generosity understood as a duty owed to the community. The translations render ஒப்புரவு as benevolence or due beneficence, and the chapter says wealth exists for this purpose.
Kural 211 begins with the rain cloud, which asks nothing in return, as the model of giving. Kural 212 states that wealth earned by the worthy through effort is meant for benevolence, and Kural 213 says no good in this world or among the gods equals it. Kural 214 gives the sharpest line, that one who knows this duty truly lives while others are counted among the dead. The three kurals that follow are vivid images. Wealth in a generous person's hands is like a village tank filled with water (Kural 215), a fruit tree ripening in the middle of the town (Kural 216) and a tree whose every part is medicine (Kural 217). Kural 218 shows the test of character: the wise do not slacken in this duty even when their means shrink. Kural 219 says a benevolent man's only poverty is his inability to give, and Kural 220 ends with the claim that if such generosity brought loss, it would be worth selling oneself to obtain it.
Kural 211 and Kural 215 are the two to learn, one for the cloud and the other for the village tank.
For the syllabus, this chapter is a good illustration of civic and social duty.
The 10 kurals of ஒப்புரவறிதல்
Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.
கைம்மாறு வேண்டா கடப்பாடு மாரிமாட்டு
என் ஆற்றுங் கொல்லோ உலகு.
Kaimmaaru Ventaa Katappaatu Maarimaattu
En Aatrung Kollo Ulaku
Duty demands no recompense; to clouds of heaven, By men on earth, what answering gift is given
தாளாற்றித் தந்த பொருளெல்லாம் தக்கார்க்கு
வேளாண்மை செய்தற் பொருட்டு.
Thaalaatrith Thandha Porulellaam Thakkaarkku
Velaanmai Seydhar Poruttu
The worthy say, when wealth rewards their toil-spent hours, For uses of beneficence alone 'tis ours
புத்தே ளுலகத்தும் ஈண்டும் பெறலரிதே
ஒப்புரவின் நல்ல பிற.
Puththe Lulakaththum Eentum Peralaridhe
Oppuravin Nalla Pira
To 'due beneficence' no equal good we know, Amid the happy gods, or in this world below
ஒத்த தறவோன் உயிர்வாழ்வான் மற்றையான்
செத்தாருள் வைக்கப் படும்.
Oththa Tharavon Uyirvaazhvaan Matraiyaan
Seththaarul Vaikkap Patum
Who knows what's human life's befitting grace, He lives; the rest 'mongst dead men have their place
ஊருணி நீர்நிறைந் தற்றே உலகவாம்
பேரறி வாளன் திரு.
Ooruni Neernirain Thatre Ulakavaam
Perari Vaalan Thiru
The wealth of men who love the 'fitting way,' the truly wise, Is as when water fills the lake that village needs supplies
பயன்மரம் உள்ளூர்ப் பழுத்தற்றால் செல்வம்
நயனுடை யான்கண் படின்.
Payanmaram Ulloorp Pazhuththatraal Selvam
Nayanutai Yaankan Patin
A tree that fruits in th' hamlet's central mart, Is wealth that falls to men of liberal heart
மருந்தாகித் தப்பா மரத்தற்றால் செல்வம்
பெருந்தகை யான்கண் படின்.
Marundhaakith Thappaa Maraththatraal Selvam
Perundhakai Yaankan Patin
Unfailing tree that healing balm distils from every part, Is ample wealth that falls to him of large and noble heart
இடனில் பருவத்தும் ஒப்புரவிற்கு ஒல்கார்
கடனறி காட்சி யவர்.
Itanil Paruvaththum Oppuravirku Olkaar
Katanari Kaatchi Yavar
E'en when resources fall, they weary not of 'kindness due,'-They to whom Duty's self appears in vision true
நயனுடையான் நல்கூர்ந்தா னாதல் செயும்நீர
செய்யாது அமைகலா வாறு.
Nayanutaiyaan Nalkoorndhaa Naadhal Seyumneera
Seyyaadhu Amaikalaa Vaaru
The kindly-hearted man is poor in this alone, When power of doing deeds of goodness he finds none
ஒப்புரவி னால்வரும் கேடெனின் அஃதொருவன்
விற்றுக்கோள் தக்க துடைத்து.
Oppuravi Naalvarum Ketenin Aqdhoruvan
Vitrukkol Thakka Thutaiththu
Though by 'beneficence,' the loss of all should come,'Twere meet man sold himself, and bought it with the sum
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