Not Envying
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koṭuppatu aḻukkaṟuppāṉ suṟṟam uṭuppatūum / uṇpatūum iṉṟik keṭum
The family of the one who can't bear to see others given to will waste away, without even food or clothing.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who scans good gifts to others given with envious eye, / His kin, with none to clothe or feed them, surely die.”
“Behold the man that beareth not to see gifts made to another: his family will beg for very food and clothing, and perish.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கொடுப்பது அழுக்கறுப்பான் சுற்றம் = ஒருவன் பிறர்க்குக் கொடுப்பதன்கண் அழுக்காற்றைச் செய்வானது சுற்றம்; உடுப்பதூஉம் உண்பதூஉம் இன்றிக் கெடும் = உடுக்கப்படுவதும் உண்ணப்படுவதும் இன்றிக் கெடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The relatives of a man who cannot bear to see gifts given to others are themselves ruined — left without even food to eat or clothes to wear. Begrudging others' good drags down not just the envier but his whole household.