Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,851

Date uploaded in London –9 June 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

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Only one comment – kalam in Kural 102 is a Sanskrit word.

This topic Gratitude is also special to Hindu culture. Others don’t deal it as a separate virtue that should be remembered. Like hospitality, this is treated as a topic in Tamil and Sanskrit Niti/didactic literature only.

Tinai- Panai simile (Millet seed- Palm Tree nut) is a favourable simile of Tiru Valluvar. He used it in other couplets as well.

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Part 21

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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Chapter 11. செய்நன்றி அறிதல் – Gratitude

Seynandri Arithal; The Knowledge of Benefits Conferred: Gratitude

101.All the riches of the sky and the earth are too poor a recompense for an act of kindness from an unknown hand- A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933

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101.For help rendered, not as return for benefits, already received,

All the gifts of earth and heaven cannot compensate— S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000

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101.
Assistance given by those who ne’er received our aid,
Is debt by gift of heaven and earth but poorly paid.
(The gift of) heaven and earth is not an equivalent for a benefit which is conferred where none had been received.- Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886
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101.Unhelped in turn good help given
Exceeds in worth earth and heaven.  Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

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101.Even heaven and earth cannot recompense the help rendered by one who is under no obligation – EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS. Year 1986

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101.Even heaven and earth avail not to repay

The good that is done spontaneously — H A Popley – HAP (not full book) Year 1931

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101. செய்யாமற் செய்த உதவிக்கு வையகமும்
வானகமும் ஆற்ற லரிது

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102.A gleam of favour, however little, dawning on us in the hour of need transcends the glory of earth- ANM+2

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102. Timely help, though small, is of

Greater value than all the earth— SMD

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102.
A timely benefit, -though thing of little worth,
The gift itself, -in excellence transcends the earth.
A favour conferred in the time of need, though it be small (in itself), is (in value) much larger than the world. – GUP
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102.A help rendered in hour of need
Though small is greater than the world.- SB

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102.A help rendered in time of need, however small it may be, should be regarded as much larger than even he world—EVS

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102.A kind deed done in time of need, tough small

Is of more value than the world itself– HAP

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102. காலத்தி னாற்செய்த நன்றி சிறிதெனினும்
ஞாலத்தின் மாணப் பெரிது.

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103.A benefit conferred without any thought of reward outweighs  the treasures of the deep— ANM+2

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103.The value of help rendered by one who has not counted the cost, or the likely recompense,

When assessed is greater than in magnitude than the oceans— SMD

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103.
Kindness shown by those who weigh not what the return may be:
When you ponder right its merit, ‘T is vaster than the sea.
If we weigh the excellence of a benefit which is conferred without weighing the return, it is larger than the sea. – GUP
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103.Help rendered without weighing fruits
Outweighs the sea in grand effects –SB

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103. The value of help rendered  with out any expectation of  recompense is larger than even the ocean—EVS

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103 No translation from —HAP

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103. பயன்தூக்கார் செய்த உதவி நயன்தூக்கின்
நன்மை கடலிற் பெரிது

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104.In the eyes of the discerning, the gift as small  as a mustard seed,  looms large like a stately palm— ANM+2

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104.Even if the magnitude of the help given may be infinitesimal,

The worthy recipient will consider it as big as a palm tree— SMD

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104.
Each benefit to those of actions’ fruit who rightly deem,
Though small as millet-seed, as palm-tree vast will seem.
Though the benefit conferred be as small as a millet seed, those who know its advantage will consider it as large as a palmyra fruit. – GUP
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104.Help given though millet- small
Knowers count its good palm- tree tall –SB

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104.Though the help rendered is as small as a grain, it will be considered as large as a tree by those who appreciate the value of it- EVS

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104.Though kindly deed be small as millet seed

The wise will think it large as palm-tree nut–HAP

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104. தினைத்துணை நன்றி செயினும் பனைத்துணையாக்
கொள்வர் பயன்தெரி வார்.
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105.Rarely does the kindly act rendered a measure of its own worth prove; it is nobility of the soul of the  receiver that fathoms it— ANM+2

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105.The value of the help rendered is not limited by the physical dimensions of the help,

But is measured primarily by the  character and worth of the recipient— SMD

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105.
The kindly aid’s extent is of its worth no measure true;
Its worth is as the worth of him to whom the act you do.
The benefit itself is not the measure of the benefit; the worth of those who have received it is its measure. – GUP
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105.A help is not the help’s measure
It is gainer’s worth and pleasure –SB

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105.The worth of a kindly deed cannot be measured; its worth depends on the quality of the receiver –EVS

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105.A kind deed is not measured by the deed itself;

But by the worth of those to whom it is done—-HAP

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105. உதவி வரைத்தன்று உதவி: உதவி
செயப்பட்டார் சால்பின் வரைத்து

to be continued…………………

Tags- Gratitude: Tirukkural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 11 (Kural 101-105), Part 21