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Thirukkural-On Wealth-Avoidance Of Faults-Kural-438

Thirukkural 438, Greed
Patrullam ennum ivaranmai etrullum
Ennap paduvathon ranru.

Avarice, which is the denial of all charitable inclinations in man,
Is not just vice; it is the worst.

V V S Iyer would say:

“Close-fisted parsimony is not a vice to be classed
with other vices; it formeth a class apart."

The expression 'Patrullam' is a telling one describing the grasping attitude of the greedy miser.

The word 'errullum' is a poetic distortion of the full word 'evarrullum', meaning among all these vices.

'Kambaramayanam' provides an effective parallel as follows:

“Ullaparum pinipiraa uloabam onrumae
Allaparum gunangalai azikku maaru poal" (Kambaramayanam; Thaadakai, 43)

Story first published: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 11:03 [IST]