பொருளைப் பெருக்க எண்ணி, எவருக்கும் தராமல், தானே தனித்து உண்பது, பிறரிடம் கை ஏந்துவதைவிடக் கொடியது.

பிறர்க்கு ஈவதால் குறையக் கூடுமென்று, குவித்து வைத்துள்ளதைத் தாமே உண்ணுவது என்பது கையேந்தி இரந்து நிற்பதைக் காட்டிலும் கொடுமையானது

பொருளின் குறைபாட்டை நிரப்புவதற்க்காக உள்ளதைப் பிறர்க்கு ஈயாமல் தாமே தமியராய் உண்பது வறுமையால் இறப்பதை விடத் துன்பமானது.

Solitary and unshared eating for the sake of filling up one's own riches is certainly much more

Kural 229 is a profound verse that emphasizes the importance of generosity and the perils of miserliness. The verse says, "Eating alone and not sharing, just for the sake of amassing wealth, is a misery far worse than begging." In this verse, Valluvar, the author, criticizes the act of hoarding wealth and resources out of fear of poverty, without sharing with others. He argues that such an act is even worse than begging. The verse implies that hoarding out of fear of poverty leads to a kind of spiritual poverty, which is worse than material poverty. From a moral standpoint, the verse champions the virtue of sharing and generosity. It underscores the idea that wealth and resources should be used not just for one's own benefit, but for the benefit of others as well. This reflects the societal values of the Tamil community during Valluvar's time, where sharing and generosity were highly valued. In a broader sense, this verse can also be seen as a critique of greed and selfishness. The act of hoarding and not sharing, according to Valluvar, results in isolation and misery. This verse encourages us to be mindful of our actions and their impact on others and urges us to cultivate a spirit of generosity and sharing.