Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Domestic Virtue (இல்லறவியல்) — Giving (ஈகை)

Kural 221:
வறியார்க்கொன்று ஈவதே ஈகைமற் றெல்லாம்
குறியெதிர்ப்பை நீர துடைத்து.
vaRiyaarkkondru eevadhae eekaimaR Rellaam
kuRiyedhirppai neera thudaiththu
English couplet:
Call that a gift to needy men thou dost dispense,
All else is void of good, seeking for recompense.
Explanation: To give to the destitute is true charity. All other gifts have the nature of (what is done for) a measured return.

Kural 222:
நல்லாறு எனினும் கொளல்தீது மேலுலகம்
இல்லெனினும் ஈதலே நன்று.
nallaaRu eninum koLaldheedhu maelulakam
illeninum eedhalae nandru
English couplet:
Though men declare it heavenward path, yet to receive is ill;
Though upper heaven were not, to give is virtue still.
Explanation: To beg is evil, even though it were said that it is a good path (to heaven). To give is good, even though it were said that those who do so cannot obtain heaven.

Kural 223:
இலனென்னும் எவ்வம் உரையாமை ஈதல்
குலனுடையான் கண்ணே யுள.
ilanennum evvam uraiyaamai eedhal
kulanutaiyaan kaNNae yuLa
English couplet:
'I've nought' is ne'er the high-born man's reply;
He gives to those who raise themselves that cry.
Explanation: (Even in a low state) not to adopt the mean expedient of saying "I have nothing," but to give, is the characteristic of the mad of noble birth.

Kural 224:
இன்னாது இரக்கப் படுதல் இரந்தவர்
இன்முகங் காணும் அளவு.
innaadhu irakkap patudhal irandhavar
inmukanG kaaNum aLavu
English couplet:
The suppliants' cry for aid yields scant delight,
Until you see his face with grateful gladness bright.
Explanation: To see men begging from us in disagreeable, until we see their pleasant countenance.

Kural 225:
ஆற்றுவார் ஆற்றல் பசிஆற்றல் அப்பசியை
மாற்றுவார் ஆற்றலின் பின்.
aatruvaar aatral pasiAtral appasiyai
maatruvaar aatralin pin
English couplet:
'Mid devotees they're great who hunger's pangs sustain,
Who hunger's pangs relieve a higher merit gain.
Explanation: The power of those who perform penance is the power of enduring hunger. It is inferior to the power of those who remove the hunger (of others).

Kural 226:
அற்றார் அழிபசி தீர்த்தல் அஃதொருவன்
பெற்றான் பொருள்வைப் புழி.
atraar azhipasi theerththal aqdhoruvan
petraan poruLvaip puzhi
English couplet:
Let man relieve the wasting hunger men endure;
For treasure gained thus finds he treasure-house secure.
Explanation: The removal of the killing hunger of the poor is the place for one to lay up his wealth.

Kural 227:
பாத்தூண் மரீஇ யவனைப் பசியென்னும்
தீப்பிணி தீண்டல் அரிது.
paaththooN maree-i yavanaip pasiyennum
theeppiNi theeNdal aridhu
English couplet:
Whose soul delights with hungry men to share his meal,
The hand of hunger's sickness sore shall never feel.
Explanation: The fiery disease of hunger shall never touch him who habitually distributes his food to others.

Kural 228:
ஈத்துவக்கும் இன்பம் அறியார்கொல் தாமுடைமை
வைத்திழக்கும் வன்க ணவர்.
eeththuvakkum inpam aRiyaarkol thaamudaimai
vaiththizhakkum vankha Navar
English couplet:
Delight of glad'ning human hearts with gifts do they not know.
Men of unpitying eye, who hoard their wealth and lose it so?.
Explanation: Do the hard-eyed who lay up and lose their possessions not know the happiness which springs from the pleasure of giving ?.

Kural 229:
இரத்தலின் இன்னாது மன்ற நிரப்பிய
தாமே தமியர் உணல்.
iraththalin innaadhu mandra nirappiya
thaamae thamiyar uNal
English couplet:
They keep their garners full, for self alone the board they spread;-
'Tis greater pain, be sure, than begging daily bread!.
Explanation: Solitary and unshared eating for the sake of filling up one's own riches is certainly much more unpleasant than begging.

Kural 230:
சாதலின் இன்னாத தில்லை இனிததூஉம்
ஈதல் இயையாக் கடை.
saadhalin innaadha thillai inidhadhooum
eedhal iyaiyaak kadai
English couplet:
'Tis bitter pain to die, 'Tis worse to live.
For him who nothing finds to give!.
Explanation: Nothing is more unpleasant than death: yet even that is pleasant where charity cannot be exercised.