Giving
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
pāttūṇ marīi yavaṉaip paciyeṉṉun / tīppiṇi tīṇṭa laritu
The fierce affliction called hunger is unlikely to overtake one who has made a habit of sharing food.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Whose soul delights with hungry men to share his meal, / The hand of hunger's sickness sore shall never feel.”
“The evil disease called hunger toucheth not the man that divideth his bread with others.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பாத்து ஊண் மரீஇயவனை= எஞ்ஞான்றும் பகுத்து உண்டல் பயி்ன்றவனை;; பசி என்னும் தீப் பிணி தீண்டல் அரிது= பசி என்று சொல்லப்படும் தீய நோய் தீண்டல் இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The verse poetically says hunger's burning disease rarely touches the habitual sharer. Its ethical force is solidarity, not a guarantee against hunger or illness.