Eevaarkan en kutram ondro olhi mazhungum
Thaavaar poruLum tharum.
What fault does the giver have? The dimming of the light (of not giving) and the non-growing wealth both result.
கொடுப்போர்க்கு என்ன குற்றம்? ஒளி மழுங்கும்; வளராத பொருளும் கிடைக்கும்.
What is the fault of giving? The giver loses brightness (the light of wealth dims) and gains only slow-growing wealth? Valluvar ironically presents the 'faults' of giving — implying these are not real faults but gifts in disguise.