101 செய்யாமல் செய்த உதவிக்கு வையகமும்
வானகமும் ஆற்றல் அரிதுTranslation:
Assistance given by those who ne'er received our aid,
Is debt by gift of heaven and earth but poorly paid.
(The gift of) heaven and earth is not an equivalent for a Benefit which is conferred where none had been received.
Meaning:
A Favour done, not as return for another, is more valuable than heaven and earth put together.102 காலத்தி னாற்செய்த நன்றி சிறிதெனினும்
ஞாலத்தின் மாணப் பெரிதுTranslation:
A timely benefit, -though thing of little worth,
The gift itself, -in excellence transcends the earth.
A favour conferred in the time of need, though it be small (in itself), is (in value) much larger than the world.
Meaning:
A timely favour, however trivial its material value is, is invaluable.103 பயன்தூக்கார் செய்த உதவி நயன்தூக்கின்
நன்மை கடலின் பெரிதுTranslation:
Kindness shown by those who weigh not what the return may be:
When you ponder right its merit, 'Tis vaster than the sea.
If we weigh the excellence of a benefit which is conferred without weighing the return, it is larger than the sea.
Meaning:
If we delve into the real impact of a favour, done without calculating the returns, it is vaster than the ocean.
104 தினைத்துணை நன்றி செயினும் பனைத்துணையாக்
கொள்வர் பயன்தெரி வார்Translation:
Each benefit to those of actions' fruit who rightly deem,
Though small as millet-seed, as palm-tree vast will seem.
Though the benefit conferred be as small as a millet seed, those who know its advantage will consider it as large as a palmyra fruit.
Meaning:
Those who know the value of a favour, will not evaluate its worth, even if a favour done is a minor one.
105 உதவி வரைத்தன் றுதவி உதவி
செயப்பட்டார் சால்பின் வரைத்துTranslation:
The kindly aid's extent is of its worth no measure true;
Its worth is as the worth of him to whom the act you do.
The benefit itself is not the measure of the benefit; the worth of those who have received it is its measure.
Meaning:
A favour returned, is not to be based on quantum of favour done, but on the magnanimity of the person who did the favour.
106 மறவற்க மாசற்றார் கேண்மை துறவற்க
துன்பத்துள் துப்பாயார் நட்புTranslation:
Kindness of men of stainless soul remember evermore!
Forsake thou never friends who were thy stay in sorrow sore!
Forsake not the friendship of those who have been your staff in adversity. Forget not be benevolence of the blameless.
Meaning:
Never forget your ties with a flawless person; never forego the friendship of those who stood by you during a distress.
107 எழுமை எழுபிறப்பும் உள்ளுவர் தங்கண்
விழுமந் துடைத்தவர் நட்புTranslation:
Through all seven worlds, in seven-fold birth, Remains in mem'ry of the wise.
Friendship of those who wiped on earth, The tears of sorrow from their eyes.
(The wise) will remember throughout their seven-fold births the love of those who have wiped away their affliction.
Meaning:
One would remember the friendship of those who helped overcome a distress, forever,
even if there are seven births.
even if there are seven births.
108 நன்றி மறப்பது நன்றன்று நன்றல்லது
அன்றே மறப்பது நன்றுTranslation:
'Tis never good to let the thought of good things done thee pass away;
Of things not good, 'tis good to rid thy memory that very day.
It is not good to forget a benefit; it is good to forget an injury even in the very moment (in which it is inflicted).
Meaning:
It is not right to forget the help rendered by someone; it is virtuous to forget any harm, the moment it is done.
109 கொன்றன்ன இன்னா செயினும் அவர்செய்த
ஒன்றுநன் றுள்ளக் கெடும்Translation:
Effaced straightway is deadliest injury,
By thought of one kind act in days gone by.
Though one inflict an injury great as murder, it will perish before the thought of one benefit (formerly) conferred.
Meaning:
Even if a person commits murderous injury, it will be overlooked if he has done one good deed earlier.
110 எந்நன்றி கொன்றார்க்கும் உய்வுண்டாம் உய்வில்லை
செய்ந்நன்றி கொன்ற மகற்குTranslation:
Who every good have killed, may yet destruction flee;
Who 'benefit' has killed, that man shall ne'er 'scape free!
He who has killed every virtue may yet escape; there is no escape for him who has killed a benefit.
Meaning:
There is salvation for faltering on any virtue but not for ingratitude.
This post first appeared on Thirukural (Couplets) - A Tamil Classic Literacy, please read the originial post: here
