11.1 Gratitude

 11.1 Gratitude

 

Question:

How can we compensate someone who helped us without receiving any help from us?

 

Answer:

 

             The gift of heaven and earth is not equivalent to a conferred benefit

where none had been received.                                                                         (Couplet – 101)

செய்யாமல் செய்த உதவிக்கு வையகமும்

வானகமும் ஆற்றல் அரிது.                                                                    (குறள் – 101)

Explanation:

Receiving help from someone in return for the help we have rendered to him is natural and perhaps even to be expected. When we receive help from someone we have never helped, there is no way to assess the value of such help. In other words, even the earth and heaven cannot measure up to the value of a spontaneous help given by someone out of sheer generosity.