The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 106
CHAPTER 106
BEGGING
1051. Thou mayest beg if thou seest men that can afford to do charity : if they feign inability, it is their fault, not thine.
1052. Even begging will be a pleasure if thou canst obtain what thou beggest without suffering any humiliation
1053. There is a charm even in begging, at the hands of those who understand their duty and do not falsely pretend inability to help.
1054. Behold the man who sayeth not nay to a request even in a dream: begging at the hands of such a man is as honourable as bestowing itself.
1055. If men take freely to begging as a means of livelihood, it is because there are men in the world that refuse not alms.
1056. Behold the men that have not the churlishness to deny charity: the pangs of poverty would cease at the very sight of them.
1057. Behold the men that give without snubbing or huffing the beggar: the heart of the beggar rejoiceth when he meeteth them.
1058. If there were none to beg for alms, the whole world would have no more interest than a dance of marionettes.[1]
1059. Where would be the glory of men of a liberal hand if there were none in the world to beg of them ?
1060. Let not the beggar scowl when a man pleadeth inability to give : for his own need should be enough to show him that another may be in like condition.
- ↑ For the joy and glory of liberality would be absent from life : see next verse.