Mendicancy
Eevaarkan Ennuntaam Thotram Irandhukol / Mevaar Ilaaak Katai
Classical English couplet — “What glory will there be to men of generous soul,When none are found to love the askers' role”
What it says in plain words
“Without people who ask for and accept help, how could givers earn praise for giving?”
The classical Tamil reading
பொருள் இல்லை என்று இரந்து அதைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ள விரும்புவோர் இல்லாதபோது, பொருள் கொடுப்பவனிடத்தில் என்ன புகழ் உண்டாகும்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
இரந்து பொருள் பெறுபவர் இல்லாத நிலையில், பொருள் கொடுத்துப் புகழ் பெறுவதற்கான வாய்ப்பு இல்லாமற் போய்விடும்
The ethical and philosophical heart
Giving involves both someone offering help and someone accepting it. The person asking gives another person a chance to be generous. Without someone to receive help, that chance would not exist. This reminds us that receivers matter too, not just those we praise for giving.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- When a friend asks for grocery money, you have a chance to help.
- Workplace
- A coworker accepts your offer to pay for lunch when money is tight.
- Family
- A relative asks for help with rent, giving your family a chance to support them.
- Society
- People seeking food make a community's generous gifts useful.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- When giving, consider what people need and are willing to accept.
- Integrity
- Remember that your reputation for giving depends on people accepting your help.
- Communication
- Speak respectfully to people who ask you for help.
- Leadership
- Thank those who give without forgetting those who receive.
- Governance
- Respect people seeking public help, rather than praising only those providing it.
For leaders and teams
Teach others that receivers matter too whenever you praise generous giving. Those who ask for help make that giving possible.
Something to sit with
“How might you see someone asking for help differently today?”