Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,798

Date uploaded in London –28 May 2026

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in this part Valluvar used two Sanskrit words Payan and Mukham. He referred to a mythical flower called ANICHAM. It is not a Tamil word. It sounds like a Sanskrit word. No such flower is found in India; may be extinct.

No real flower physically withers simply from being smelled. However, this concept is famous in classical literature, most notably in the Tirukkural, an ancient Tamil literary classic.

In this text, the author uses the delicate Anicham flower to describe the fragility of hospitality:
“The delicate anicham flower withers when merely smelled, but an unwelcome look is enough to wither a guest’s heart.”

Botanical Reality:
In the real world, the most famously sensitive plant is Mimosa pudica (the “touch-me-not” or “sensitive plant”), which flinches and folds its leaves when physically touched or shaken—but it does not wither

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Hospitality is a Hindu concept. All Smritis praise this quality and insists it should be part of one’s life. In India only we see Choultries/ Anna Chaththiraam / providing free food. Temples and Gurudwaras also provide free food; Gurudwaras came into existence only in the past 500 years. Tiru Valluvar talks about guests visiting houses, not places oof worship. Hindu folktales and scriptures give lot of examples for hospitality; we can’t see such a virtue outside India.

***

Following Translations are used:

1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933

2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD Year 2000

3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS. Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

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Part 18

Chapter 9 Hospitality விருந்தோம்பல்

86.Thrice welcome is he unto the godson high who tending his assembled guests, wistfully waits for more— A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933

***

86.If one has fed his guests and still awaits the arrival of more,

He will himself be treated as a guest by the Gods – S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD Year 2000

***

86
The guest arrived he tends, the coming guest expects to see;
To those in heavenly homes that dwell a welcome guest is he.
He who, having entertained the guests that have come, looks out for others who may yet come, will be a welcome guest to the inhabitants of heaven.– Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

***

86.Who tends a guest and looks for next
Is a welcome guest in heaven’s feast.- Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB      

***  

86.Having entertained his guests, the man who awaits new guests will be cordially welcomes by the Devas in Heaven — EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS. Year 1986

***

86.He will be a welcome guest  to gods on high,

Who speeds the parting guest, and coming guest arrives– HAP (not full book) Year 1931

***

86. செல்விருந்து ஓம்பி வருவிருந்து பார்த்திருப்பான்
நல்விருந்து வானத் தவர்க்கு

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87.Vainly does man measure the fruits of kindly acts done. Behold it is worth of the guest that is the touchstone of our sacrifice;( for who knows we may be entertaining angels unawares?)— ANM+2

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87.The worth of one’s hospitality , is measured only by the quality

Of the guests, who have been entertained— SMD

***

87.
To reckon up the fruit of kindly deeds were all in vain;
Their worth is as the worth of guests you entertain.
The advantages of benevolence cannot be measured; the measure (of the virtue) of the guests (entertained) is the only measure.- GUP

***

87.Worth of the guest of quality
Is worth of hospitality. SB         

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87.The benefit of entertaining guests  cannot be measured except by the worth f the guests entertained-EVS

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87.There is no measure for the fruit of kindliness:

The guests own worth- this is its measure true– HAP

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87. இனைத்துணைத் தென்பதொன் றில்லை: விருந்தின்
துணைத்துணை வேள்விப் பயன்

***

88.“Oh! I am undone and forsaken; would to God I had spent my all on acts of kindness and of love to strangers that crossed my doors” is the remorseful cry of an unloving heart— ANM+2

***

88.Those who have not practiced hospitality , as one of the prime sacrifices of life,

Will lament that they have wasted their lives in purposeless toil and care— SMD

***

88.
With pain they guard their stores, yet ‘All forlorn are we,’ they’ll cry,
Who cherish not their guests, nor kindly help supply.
Those who have taken no part in the benevolence of hospitality shall (at length lament) saying, “we have laboured and laid up wealth and are now without support.” –GUP

***

88.Who loathe guest-service one day cry:
“We toil and store; but life is dry”. SB     

***    

88.Those who do not realise the value of hospitality will repent that they have preserved  their wealth in vain—EPS

***

88.‘We have cherished wealth, but now are helpless left’- so say

Those who have not yet begun to cherish guests HAP

***

88. பரிந்தோம்பிப் பற்றற்றேம் என்பர் விருந்தோம்பி
வேள்வி தலைப்படா தார்
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89.Verily there is indigence in the midst of the opulence of a fool who is not alive to the charities of home— ANM+2

***

89.Wealthy men, who fail in extending hospitality,

Are fools; they live in poverty amidst plenty— SMD

***
89.
To turn from guests is penury, though worldly goods abound;
‘Tis senseless folly, only with the senseless found.
That stupidity which excercises no hospitality is poverty in the midst of wealth. It is the property of the stupid.—GUP

***
89.The man of wealth is poor indeed
Whose folly fails the guest to feed. SB   

***      

89.One who does not entertain his guests  in poverty though in the midst of wealth. This is characteristic of stupidity –EPS

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89.The crass stupidity that will not cherish guests

Is poverty in wealth; it is only found in fools- HAP

***
89. உடமையுள் இன்மை விருந்தோம்பல் ஓம்பா
மடமை மடவார்கண் உண்டு

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90.The anicha flower fades and faints before the breadth of a man; even so does a heart sink within itself that meets the cold unwelcome look of the host– ANM+2

***

90.The delicate blossom of anicham withers away even on being smelt;

A sensible guest shrinks at an unwelcome look of the host—SMD

***

90.
The flower of ‘Anicha’ withers away, If you do but its fragrance inhale;
If the face of the host cold welcome convey, The guest’s heart within him will fail.
As the Anicham flower fades in smelling, so fades the guest when the face is turned away. –GUP

***

90.Anicham smelt withers: like that
A wry-faced look withers the guest. SB    

***     

90.Even as the Anicham flower fades when smelt, so also are guests hurt when the host puts on a wry face—EPS

***

90.As in the very smelling fades the Anicham flowe,

So at a changing glance, the guest’s heart sinks- HAP

***
90. மோப்பக் குழையும் அனிச்சம் முகந்திரிந்து
நோக்கக் குழையும் விருந்து
to be continued…………………

Tags- Chapter 9 Hospitality, விருந்தோம்பல், Tirukkural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 9 (Kural 86-90), six translations