794. Who bears the blame

சுமப்பவன் தோள்வலி சொல்லும் சுமத்தியவன்நெஞ்சம் சுமக்கும் பழி

sumappavan tholvali sollum sumathiyavannenjam sumakkum pazhi

The carrier’s shoulder speaks its ache; the one who loaded him carries the blame in his heart.

795. Caught between demands

இருமுனையும் தின்னும் எரிநடுவே நிற்கும்ஒருதிரியின் வாழ்வு கடன்

irumunaiyum thinnum erinaduve nirkumorudhiriyin vaazhvu kadan

One wick stands in a fire that eats it at both ends: its life is duty.

The Tamil word for duty, kadan, also means debt: the wick’s life may be something owed.

796. When duty is done

ஆறுகடந் தோன்படகைத் தோளிற் சுமப்பதென்னதீர்ந்தகடன் தீரா தெனல்

aarukadan thonpadakaidh tholir sumappadhennatheerndakadan theeraa thenal

He has crossed the river and still carries the boat on his shoulder: that is calling a settled debt unsettled.

Kadan means both debt and duty: money already repaid, or a duty already done.