Kural 793Chapter 80: Investigation in forming Friendships

Thirukkural 793 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

குணமும் குடிமையும் குற்றமும் குன்றா
இனனும் அறிந்தியாக்க நட்பு.

Transliteration

Kunamum Kutimaiyum Kutramum Kundraa
Inanum Arindhiyaakka Natpu

Modern English

“Before forming a close friendship, look at a person's character, habits, faults, background, and the people around them.”

Modern Interpretation

Before forming a close friendship, look at a person's character, habits, faults, background, and the people around them. Understanding the whole pattern is wiser than judging one charming moment. For example, notice whether a new friend is honest with family, classmates, and strangers alike.

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Modern Plain English

Before forming a close friendship, look at a person's character, habits, faults, background, and the people around them.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

Temper, descent, defects and kins Trace well and take companions

G.U. Pope Translation

Temper, descent, defects, associations freeFrom blame: know these, then let the man be friend to thee

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

Make friendship (with one) after ascertaining (his) character, birth, defects and the whole of one's relations

Tamil commentary

ஒருவனது குணம், குடும்பப் பிறப்பு, குற்றம், குறையாத சுற்றம் ஆகியவற்றை அறிந்து நட்புக் கொள்க.

Chapter 80

More from Investigation in forming Friendships

நட்பாராய்தல்

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Kural 791

Than testless friendship nought is worse For contacts formed will scarcely cease

Kural 792

Friendship made without frequent test Shall end in grief and death at last

Kural 793

Temper, descent, defects and kins Trace well and take companions

Kural 794

Take as good friend at any price The nobly born who shun disgrace

Kural 795

Who make you weep and chide wrong trends And lead you right are worthy friends

Kural 796

Is there a test like misfortune A rod to measure out kinsmen?

Kural 797

Keep off contacts with fools; that is The greatest gain so say the wise

Kural 798

Off with thoughts that depress the heart Off with friends that in woe depart

Kural 799

Friends who betray at ruin's brink Burn our mind ev'n at death to think

Kural 800

The blameless ones as friends embarace; Give something and give up the base