Tirukkural-On Virtue-Charity-Kural 222

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Even if it would lead to heaven, to receive charity is bad, While without recompense of heavenly reward too, giving is good.

A concise version of this is the Biblical statement:

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

The Holly Koran too emphasises the efficacy of charity in the following lines:

'Prayer carries us half-way to God, fasting brings us to the door of his place and alms-giving procures us admission'.

Even from human considerations receiving charity always hurts. On the other hand, giving to poor gives satisfaction.

Valluvar has emphasised this aspect, which is not directly bound up with religious beliefs. Marcus Aureleus has subscribed to a similar thought when he wrote:

"Lest I should come to the worst of all possible ends, by receiving favours which I could not return"
(Book XI-25)

Parimelalagar and others have adhered to the line explained above, but Parithiar's interpretation is based on a variation of 'Nallaar' instead of 'Nallaaru'. He would say that is bad to receive even from a good person with an auspicious hand, etc. The earlier interpretation is more appropriate.

'Purananuru' supports this kural in the following lines:

Ee yena iraththal ilindhanru
Kollaenak koduthal uyarnthanru

(Puranaanooru 204: 1-3)