Duty to Society
Marundhaakith Thappaa Maraththatraal Selvam / Perundhakai Yaankan Patin
Classical English couplet — “Unfailing tree that healing balm distils from every part,Is ample wealth that falls to him of large and noble heart”
What it says in plain words
“Wealth in a generous person's hands helps others, like a healing tree. Every part of that tree can be used as medicine.”
The classical Tamil reading
ஒப்புரவாகிய பெருந்தகைமை உடையவனிடத்து செல்வம் சேர்ந்தால் அஃது எல்லா உறுப்புகளுக்கும் மருந்தாகிப் பயன்படத் தவறாத மரம் போன்றது.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
பிறருக்கு உதவிடும் பெருந்தன்மையாம் ஒப்புரவு உடையவனிடம், செல்வம் சேர்ந்தால் அது ஒரு நல்ல மரத்தின் எல்லா உறுப்புகளும் மருந்தாகப் பயன்படுவது போன்றதாகும்
The ethical and philosophical heart
The couplet compares a generous person's wealth to a healing tree. Every part of the tree offers something useful as medicine. In the same way, money can meet many different needs. Its value grows through the help it brings others, such as food, care, or shelter.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You use some spare money to buy medicine for a friend.
- Workplace
- A business owner uses profits to help workers facing emergencies.
- Family
- A family shares its savings to help a relative get treatment.
- Society
- Neighbors pool money to provide meals for people struggling to buy food.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Consider whose needs your money could help meet before spending it.
- Integrity
- Use money set aside for helping others for that purpose.
- Communication
- Ask people what they need before deciding how to help.
- Leadership
- Use the resources you manage to support people facing hardship.
- Governance
- Use public funds to meet people's needs for food, shelter, and healthcare.
For leaders and teams
Let the resources you manage bring practical help to others. Even a small budget can meet someone's pressing need.
Something to sit with
“How could you use something you have to ease someone's difficulty today?”