Tirukkural-On Virtue-Social Cooperation-Kural 216

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Payanmaram ulloorp paluthaattral selvam
Nayanudai yaankan padin

When prosperity comes to a large-hearted man,
It is like the useful village-tree bearing fruit.

When the man, whose joy is to spread happiness around him, acquires wealth, it is obviously like the village tree coming to fruit. In respect of such fruit-trees on the village common, the fruits were shared by all according to long-standing convention of the village.

Naladiar is explicit on this idea when it says:
“…..Palumaram poal
Pallaar payan thuipathaan varundhi vaazvathe
Nallaan maharkuk kadan"

Kambaramayanam also speaks of
“Paar keza palumaram paluthaatraakavum"
(Kamban: Mandhiram 82)

This would prove that the Tamil society of those days believed in this concept of benevolence in social co-operation deeply and widely.

(Appar : Maraikaadu 5)