Thirukkural 796 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கேட்டினும் உண்டோர் உறுதி கிளைஞரை
நீட்டி அளப்பதோர் கோல்.
Transliteration
Kettinum Untor Urudhi Kilaignarai
Neetti Alappadhor Kol
Modern English
“Hard times contain one useful lesson: they reveal who your real friends are.”
Modern Interpretation
Hard times contain one useful lesson: they reveal who your real friends are. Trouble measures loyalty more clearly than easy days do. For example, when a family faces sudden financial difficulty, the people who offer practical help show the depth of their care.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Hard times contain one useful lesson: they reveal who your real friends are.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Is there a test like misfortune A rod to measure out kinsmen?
G.U. Pope Translation
Ruin itself one blessing lends:'Tis staff that measures out one's friends
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Even in ruin there is some good; (for) it is a rod by which one may measure fully (the affection of one's) relations
Tamil commentary
எவன் நமக்கு உற்ற நண்பன் என்பதை நீட்டி அளந்து கொள்ளும் அறிவு நம் துன்பத்தில் உண்டு.
Chapter 80
More from Investigation in forming Friendships
நட்பாராய்தல்
Than testless friendship nought is worse For contacts formed will scarcely cease
Kural 792Friendship made without frequent test Shall end in grief and death at last
Kural 793Temper, descent, defects and kins Trace well and take companions
Kural 794Take as good friend at any price The nobly born who shun disgrace
Kural 795Who make you weep and chide wrong trends And lead you right are worthy friends
Kural 796Is there a test like misfortune A rod to measure out kinsmen?
Kural 797Keep off contacts with fools; that is The greatest gain so say the wise
Kural 798Off with thoughts that depress the heart Off with friends that in woe depart
Kural 799Friends who betray at ruin's brink Burn our mind ev'n at death to think
Kural 800The blameless ones as friends embarace; Give something and give up the base