81 இருந்தோம்பி இல்வாழ்வ தெல்லாம் விருந்தோம்பி
வேளாண்மை செய்தற் பொருட்டுTranslation:
All household cares and course of daily life have this in view.
Guests to receive with courtesy, and kindly acts to do.
The whole design of living in the domestic state and laying up (property) is (to be able) to exercise the benevolence of Hospitality.
Meaning:
The purpose of nurturing Wealth and leading a family life, is to be able to be hospitable to guests.82 விருந்து புறத்ததாத் தானுண்டல் சாவா
மருந்தெனினும் வேண்டற்பாற் றன்றுTranslation:
Though food of immortality should crown the board,
Feasting alone, the guests without unfed, is thing abhorred.
It is not fit that one should wish his guests to be outside (his house) even though he were eating the food of immortality.
Meaning:
Even if you have nectar that will assure immortality, it is not appreciable to dine alone, leaving the guests out.83 வருவிருந்து வைகலும் ஓம்புவான் வாழ்க்கை
பருவந்து பாழ்படுதல் இன்றுTranslation:
Each day he tends the coming guest with kindly care;
Painless, unfailing plenty shall his household share.
The domestic life of the man that daily entertains the guests who come to him shall not be laid waste by poverty.
Meaning:
One who is hospitable to guests everyday never suffers because of that.
84 அகனமர்ந்து செய்யாள் உறையும் முகனமர்ந்து
நல்விருந் தோம்புவான் இல்Translation:
With smiling face he entertains each virtuous guest,
'Fortune' with gladsome mind shall in his dwelling rest.
Lakshmi with joyous mind shall dwell in the house of that man who, with cheerful countenance, entertains the good as guests.
Meaning:
The Goddess of wealth will reside happily with someone who attends to his guests with a smile on the face.
85 வித்தும் இடல்வேண்டும் கொல்லோ விருந்தோம்பி
மிச்சில் மிசைவான் புலம்Translation:
Who first regales his guest, and then himself supplies,
O'er all his fields, unsown, shall plenteous harvests rise.
Is it necessary to sow the field of the man who, having feasted his guests, eats what may remain ?
Meaning:
Does one even need to sow his field, if he always eats only what remains after feeding his guests?
86 செல்விருந் தோம்பி வருவிருந்து பார்த்திருப்பான்
நல்விருந்து வானத் தவர்க்குTranslation:
The guest arrived he tends, the coming guest expects to see;
To those in heavenly homes that dwell a welcome guest is he.
He who, having entertained the guests that have come, looks out for others who may yet come, will be a welcome guest to the inhabitants of heaven.
Meaning:
One who is hospitable to his guests, and when they leave, awaits his next guests, will be a welcome-guest in the heavens.
87 இனைத்துணைத் தென்பதொன் றில்லை விருந்தின்
துணைத்துணை வேள்விப் பயன்Translation:
To reckon up the fruit of kindly deeds were all in vain;
Their worth is as the worth of guests you entertain.
The advantages of benevolence cannot be measured; the measure (of the virtue) of the guests (entertained) is the only measure.
Meaning:
We can’t quantify the benefits of hospitality; it is limited only by the quality of the guests.
88 பரிந்தோம்பிப் பற்றற்றேம் என்பர் விருந்தோம்பி
வேள்வி தலைப்படா தார்Translation:
With pain they guard their stores, yet 'All forlorn are we,' they'll cry,
Who cherish not their guests, nor kindly help supply.
Those who have taken no part in the benevolence of hospitality shall (at length lament) saying, "we have laboured and laid up wealth and are now without support."
Meaning:
Those who dont take up hospitality as a spiritual ritual, will later repent that they have lost the wealth they loved.
89 உடைமையுள் இன்மை விருந்தோம்பல் ஓம்பா
மடமை மடவார்கண் உண்டுTranslation:
To turn from guests is penury, though worldly goods abound;
'Tis senseless folly, only with the senseless found.
That stupidity which excercises no hospitality is poverty in the midst of wealth. It is the property of the stupid.
Meaning:
There are fools who choose to be poor despite possessing wealth, by not being hospitable to guests.
90 மோப்பக் குழையும் அனிச்சம் முகந்திரிந்து
நோக்கக் குழையும் விருந்துTranslation:
The flower of 'Anicha' withers away, If you do but its fragrance inhale;
If the face of the host cold welcome convey, The guest's heart within him will fail.
As the Anicham flower fades in smelling, so fades the guest when the face is turned away.
Meaning:
The flower, anicham, shrivels when it is smelt. A guest will wilt if the host’s face betrays the slightest twitch.
This post first appeared on Thirukural (Couplets) - A Tamil Classic Literacy, please read the originial post: here
