Verse 338: Bound by receiving
338. Bound by receiving
கொடையென்னும் தூண்டில் கொடுத்தவன் கையில்விடையில்லா மீனாம் பெறின்
kodaiyennum thoondil koduthavan kaiyilvidaiyillaa meenaam perin
Giving is a hook; whoever receives is a fish held in the giver’s hand, with no getting free.
The verse gives the giver no motive and no bait: the hook is not a trick hidden inside the gift but the giving itself.