Thirukkural 106 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மறவற்க மாசற்றார் கேண்மை துறவற்க
துன்பத்துள் துப்பாயார் நட்பு.
Transliteration
Maravarka Maasatraar Kenmai Thuravarka
Thunpaththul Thuppaayaar Natpu
Modern English
“Never abandon people who stood by you through real hardship, and never forget those with a genuinely good character.”
Modern Interpretation
Never abandon people who stood by you through real hardship, and never forget those with a genuinely good character. Loyalty to the people who mattered when things were hard is worth protecting for life. For example, staying in touch with the friend who helped you through a rough breakup, even after your lives take different paths, honours that bond.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Never abandon people who stood by you through real hardship, and never forget those with a genuinely good character.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Forget not friendship of the pure Forsake not timely helpers sure
G.U. Pope Translation
Kindness of men of stainless soul remember evermoreForsake thou never friends who were thy stay in sorrow sore
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Forsake not the friendship of those who have been your staff in adversity Forget not be benevolence of the blameless
Tamil commentary
உன் துன்பத்துள் துணையாக நின்றவரின் நட்பை விடாதே; அறிவு ஒழுக்கங்களில் குற்றம் இல்லாதவரின் நட்பை மறந்து விடாதே.
Chapter 11
More from Gratitude
செய்ந்நன்றியறிதல்
Unhelped in turn good help given Exceeds in worth earth and heaven
Kural 102A help rendered in hour of need Though small is greater than the world
Kural 103Help rendered without weighing fruits Outweighs the sea in grand effects
Kural 104Help given though millet-small Knowers count its good palm-tree tall
Kural 105A help is not the help's measure It is gainer's worth and pleasure
Kural 106Forget not friendship of the pure Forsake not timely helpers sure
Kural 107Through sevenfold births, in memory fares The willing friend who wiped one's tears
Kural 108To forget good turns is not good Good it is over wrong not to brood
Kural 109Let deadly harms be forgotten While remembering one good-turn
Kural 110The virtue-killer may be saved Not benefit-killer who is damned