Knowing One's Duty to Society
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
iṭaṉil paruvattu moppuraviṟ kolkār / kaṭaṉaṟi kāṭci yavar
Those who clearly know their duty do not withdraw from helping even in a season when their own resources are limited.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“E'en when resources fall, they weary not of 'kindness due,'- / They to whom Duty's self appears in vision true.”
“Behold the men who know what is just and proper: they fail not to oblige others even when fallen on evil days.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இடன் இல் பருவத்தும் ஒப்புரவிற்கு ஒல்கார்= செல்வம் சுருங்கிய காலத்தும் ஒப்புரவு செய்தற்குத் தளரார்;; கடன் அறி காட்சியவர்= தாம் செய்யத் தகுவனவற்றை அறிந்து இயற்கை அறிவுடையார், என்றவாறு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
People who understand what is fitting do not abandon public-minded care merely because a period of reduced means has arrived.