468. Somewhere to set down

கூரையுள் வைத்தபொருள் காத்திருக்கும் வீடிலான்தோளிருக்கும் மட்டே சுமை

kooraiyul vaithaporul kaathirukkum veedilaantholirukkum matte sumai

Goods put under a roof are kept; for a man with no house, what he has is a burden, and only for as long as his shoulders last.

469. Home learned by heart

வழிதடு மாறா திருள்நிறை இல்லில்விழியன்று காலறியும் வீடு

vazhidhadu maaraa thirulnirai illilvizhiyandru kaalariyum veedu

Through a house full of darkness the way is walked without a stumble; the eye does not know the home, the foot does.

470. What shelter means

புகலிடமுள் ளார்க்குப் புகலிடமோர் சொல்லேபுகலிட மில்லார்க் குயிர்

pukalidamul laarkkup pukalidamor sollepukalida millaark kuyir

To those who have shelter, shelter is only a word; to those who have no shelter, it is life.

The Tamil word for shelter, pukalidam, means ‘a place to run into’: a refuge to flee to, not only a roof.