Giving
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cātali ṉiṉṉāta tillai yiṉitatūu / mīta liyaiyāk kaṭai
Nothing is more painful than death, says the verse; yet it uses the shocking claim that even death feels sweet when one is unable to give to a person in need.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'Tis bitter pain to die, 'Tis / worse to live.”
“Nothing is bitterer than death: but even death is sweet when one hath not the power to do charity.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சாதலின் இன்னாதது இல்லை= ஒருவற்குச் சாதல்போல இன்னாதது ஒன்று இல்லை;; அதூஉம் ஈதல் இயையாக்கடை இனிது= அத்தன்மைத்தாகிய சாதலும், வறியார்க்கு ஒன்று ஈதல் முடியாதவழி இனிது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The commentary explains a deliberate ancient hyperbole: death, normally the greatest pain, is called sweet when poverty prevents giving. It condemns helplessness before need; it is not counsel to die.