Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Civil (குடியியல்) — The Dread of Mendicancy (இரவச்சம்)

Kural 1061:
கரவாது உவந்தீயும் கண்ணன்னார் கண்ணும்
இரவாமை கோடி உறும்.
karavaadhu uvandheeyum kaNNannaar kaNNum
iravaamai koati uRum
English couplet:
Ten million-fold 'tis greater gain, asking no alms to live,
Even from those, like eyes in worth, who nought concealing gladly give.
Explanation: Not to beg (at all) even from those excellent persons who cheerfully give without refusing, will do immense good.

Kural 1062:
இரந்தும் உயிர்வாழ்தல் வேண்டின் பரந்து
கெடுக உலகியற்றி யான்.
irandhum uyirvaazhdhal vaeNdin parandhu
keduka ulagiyatri yaan
English couplet:
If he that shaped the world desires that men should begging go,
Through life's long course, let him a wanderer be and perish so.
Explanation: If the Creator of the world has decreed even begging as a means of livelihood, may he too go abegging and perish.

Kural 1063:
இன்மை இடும்பை இரந்துதீர் வாமென்னும்
வன்மையின் வன்பாட்ட தில்.
inmai idumpai irandhudheer vaamennum
vanmaiyin vanpaatta thil
English couplet:
Nothing is harder than the hardness that will say,
'The plague of penury by asking alms we'll drive away'.
Explanation: There is no greater folly than the boldness with which one seeks to remedy the evils of poverty by begging (rather than by working).

Kural 1064:
இடமெல்லாம் கொள்ளாத் தகைத்தே இடமில்லாக்
காலும் இரவொல்லாச் சால்பு.
idamellaam koLLaath thakaiththae idamillaak
kaalum iravollaach chaalpu
English couplet:
Who ne'er consent to beg in utmost need, their worth
Has excellence of greatness that transcends the earth.
Explanation: Even the whole world cannot sufficiently praise the dignity that would not beg even in the midst of destitution.

Kural 1065:
தெண்ணீர் அடுபுற்கை ஆயினும் தாள்தந்தது
உண்ணலின் ஊங்கினிய தில்.
theNNeer adupuRkai aayinum thaaLdhandhadhu
uNNalin oonginiya thil
English couplet:
Nothing is sweeter than to taste the toil-won cheer,
Though mess of pottage as tasteless as the water clear.
Explanation: Even thin gruel is ambrosia to him who has obtained it by labour.

Kural 1066:
ஆவிற்கு நீரென்று இரப்பினும் நாவிற்கு
இரவின் இளிவந்த தில்.
aaviRku neerendru irappinum naaviRku
iravin iLivandha thil
English couplet:
E'en if a draught of water for a cow you ask,
Nought's so distasteful to the tongue as beggar's task.
Explanation: There is nothing more disgraceful to one's tongue than to use it in begging water even for a cow.

Kural 1067:
இரப்பன் இரப்பாரை எல்லாம் இரப்பின்
கரப்பார் இரவன்மின் என்று.
irappan irappaarai ellaam irappin
karappaar iravanmin endru
English couplet:
One thing I beg of beggars all, 'If beg ye may,
Of those who hide their wealth, beg not, I pray'.
Explanation: I beseech all beggars and say, "If you need to beg, never beg of those who give unwillingly".

Kural 1068:
இரவென்னும் ஏமாப்பில் தோணி கரவென்னும்
பார்தாக்கப் பக்கு விடும்.
iravennum Emaappil thoaNi karavennum
paardhaakkap pakku vidum
English couplet:
The fragile bark of beggary
Wrecked on denial's rock will lie.
Explanation: The unsafe raft of begging will split when it strikes on the rock of refusal.

Kural 1069:
இரவுள்ள உள்ளம் உருகும் கரவுள்ள
உள்ளதூஉம் இன்றிக் கெடும்.
iravuLLa uLLam urukum karavuLLa
uLLadhooum indrik kedum
English couplet:
The heart will melt away at thought of beggary,
With thought of stern repulse 'twill perish utterly.
Explanation: To think of (the evil of) begging is enough to melt one's heart; but to think of refusal is enough to break it.

Kural 1070:
கரப்பவர்க்கு யாங்கொளிக்கும் கொல்லோ இரப்பவர்
சொல்லாடப் போஒம் உயிர்.
karappavarkku yaangoLikkum kolloa irappavar
sollaadap poaOm uyir
English couplet:
E'en as he asks, the shamefaced asker dies;
Where shall his spirit hide who help denies? .
Explanation: Saying "No" to a beggar takes away his life. (but as that very word will kill the refuser) where then would the latter's life hide itself ?.