Thirukkural 811 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பருகுவார் போலினும் பண்பிலார் கேண்மை
பெருகலிற் குன்றல் இனிது.
Transliteration
Parukuvaar Polinum Panpilaar Kenmai
Perukalir Kundral Inidhu
Modern English
“It is better to reduce contact with someone who acts loving but lacks good character than to let that friendship grow.”
Modern Interpretation
It is better to reduce contact with someone who acts loving but lacks good character than to let that friendship grow. If a classmate flatters you while pressuring you to cheat, create some distance.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
It is better to reduce contact with someone who acts loving but lacks good character than to let that friendship grow.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Swallowing love of soulless men Had better wane than wax anon
G.U. Pope Translation
Though evil men should all-absorbing friendship show,Their love had better die away than grow
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The decrease of friendship with those who look as if they would eat you up (through excess of love) while they are really destitute of goodness is far better than its increase
Tamil commentary
உயிரால் உருகுவார்போல் நடிக்கும், உள்ளத்துள் நல்ல பண்பு இல்லாதவரின் நட்பு வளர்வதைவிடக் குறைவது நல்லது.
Chapter 82
More from Evil Friendship
தீ நட்பு
Swallowing love of soulless men Had better wane than wax anon
Kural 812Who fawn in wealth and fail in dearth Gain or lose; such friends have no worth
Kural 813Cunning friends who calculate Are like thieves and whores wicked
Kural 814Better be alone than trust in those That throw in field like faithless horse
Kural 815Friends low and mean that give no help- Leave them is better than to keep
Kural 816Million times the wise man's hate Is better than a fool intimate
Kural 817Ten-fold crore you gain from foes Than from friends who are vain laughers
Kural 818Without a word those friends eschew Who spoil deeds which they can do
Kural 819Even in dreams the tie is bad With those whose deed is far from word
Kural 820Keep aloof from those that smile At home and in public revile