Thirukkural 800 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மருவுக மாசற்றார் கேண்மைஒன் றீத்தும்
ஒருவுக ஒப்பிலார் நட்பு.
Transliteration
Maruvuka Maasatraar Kenmaion Reeththum
Oruvuka Oppilaar Natpu
Modern English
“Stay close to people who are sincere and free from harmful motives, and leave relationships with people whose values repeatedly conflict with what is right.”
Modern Interpretation
Stay close to people who are sincere and free from harmful motives, and leave relationships with people whose values repeatedly conflict with what is right. A clean friendship is worth protecting, while a damaging one may be worth ending at a cost. For example, it can be wiser to leave a dishonest group than to keep belonging at the price of your integrity.
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Modern Plain English
Stay close to people who are sincere and free from harmful motives, and leave relationships with people whose values repeatedly conflict with what is right.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The blameless ones as friends embarace; Give something and give up the base
G.U. Pope Translation
Cling to the friendship of the spotless one's; whate'er you payRenounce alliance with the men of evil way
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Continue to enjoy the friendship of the pure; (but) renounce even with a gift, the friendship of those who do not agree (with the world)
Tamil commentary
குற்றம் அற்றவரோடு நட்புக் கொள்க; உலகோடு ஒத்து வராதவரின் நட்பை விலை கொடுத்தாவது விட்டு விடுக.
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