Thirukkural 450 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பல்லார் பகைகொளலிற் பத்தடுத்த தீமைத்தே
நல்லார் தொடர்கை விடல்.
Transliteration
Pallaar Pakai Kolalir Paththatuththa
Theemaiththe Nallaar Thotarkai Vital
Modern English
“Losing the friendship of good and wise people is worse than making many enemies because their guidance and support are hard to replace.”
Modern Interpretation
Losing the friendship of good and wise people is worse than making many enemies because their guidance and support are hard to replace. For example, leaving a trusted team just to chase popularity can cost you the people who helped you grow.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Losing the friendship of good and wise people is worse than making many enemies because their guidance and support are hard to replace.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
To give up good friends is ten times worse Than being hated by countless foes
G.U. Pope Translation
Than hate of many foes incurred, works greater woeTen-fold, of worthy men the friendship to forego
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
It is tenfold more injurious to abandon the friendship of the good, than to incur the hatred of the many
Tamil commentary
துறைப் பெரியவர் நட்பைப் பெறாமல் அதை விட்டுவிடுவது, தனியனாய் நின்று, பலரோடும் பகை கொள்வதைக் காட்டிலும், பல பத்து மடங்கு தீமை ஆகும்.
Chapter 45
More from Seeking the Aid of Great Men
பெரியாரைத் துணைக்கோடல்
Weigh their worth and friendship gain Of men of virtue and mature brain
Kural 442Cherish the help of men of skill Who ward and safe-guard you from ill
Kural 443Honour and have the great your own Is rarest of the rare things known
Kural 444To have betters as intimates Power of all powers promotes
Kural 445Ministers are the monarch's eyes Round him should be the right and wise
Kural 446To move with worthy friends who knows Has none to fear from frightful foes
Kural 447No foe can foil his powers whose friends reprove him when he errs
Kural 448The careless king whom none reproves Ruins himself sans harmful foes
Kural 449No capital, no gain in trade No prop secure sans good comrade
Kural 450To give up good friends is ten times worse Than being hated by countless foes