Hospitality
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
iṉaittuṇaittu eṉbadu oṉṟu illai virundiṉ / tuṇaittuṇai vēḷvip payaṉ
Hospitality's fruit has no fixed measure; the commentary says it varies with the guest's context and fitness. This concerns the help's significance, not unequal human worth.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To reckon up the fruit of kindly deeds were all in vain; Their worth is as the worth of guests you entertain.”
“We cannot say of any hospitable act by itself, So much is the merit of this act: it is the worth of the guest that is the measure of the sacrifice.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வேள்விப்பயன் இனைத்துணைத்து என்பது ஒன்று இல்லை = விருந்தோம்பலாகிய வேள்வியின் பயன் இன்ன அளவிற்று என்பதோர் அளவு உடைத்து அன்று; விருந்தின் துணைத்துணை = அதற்கு அவ்விருந்தின் தகுதியளவே அளவு. (ஐம்பெரு வேள்வியின் ஒன்றாகலின் 'வேள்வி' என்றார்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
There is no fixed amount one can name as the merit of hospitality — 'it is just this much.' Its worth has no set measure; the reward matches the worthiness of the guest who is welcomed. The good that comes of welcoming guests cannot be counted in advance.