Tirukkural-On Virtue-Social Cooperation-Kural 217

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If wealth comes to a generous soul, with a large heart,It becomes an unfailing drug for all ills of society.

The meaning of this Kural is obvious. The acquisition of wealth, by a benevolent man of virtue, will be as useful to society as the medicinal tree, which helps mankind with all its parts.

In these three kurals the poet has been gradually building up this concept of the benevolent man, who practices 'Oppuravu' or social co-operation to the full, in the best possible manner.

Such a man is like the village tank which stores rain-water and, while keeping it from going waste, distributes it to all who need it, according to their need. He is also like the village fruit-tree, which gives of its abundance during the season, free to all villagers and way-farers. Better than both is the medicinal tree, which is really a precious natural alchemist. For its leaves, bark and fruit take out of the earth all those health-giving essences and pass them on to those who need them to relieve their respective ailments.

A great and generous citizen whose accumulation of wealth is solely for the service of the people and for the relief of suffering, wherever found, is just like this tree of nature's alchemy. The knowledge and experience of such a man are also put to effective use in utilizing his own wealth for the lasting benefit of the community. The same idea is found also in the following lines of Thirikadukam:

'Vallanmai poondaan kat selvamum.....
Pothindrik kaaitha maram'

(Thirikadukam-75)