Thirukkural 818 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒல்லும் கருமம் உடற்று பவர்கேண்மை
சொல்லாடார் சோர விடல்.
Transliteration
Ollum Karumam Utatru Pavarkenmai
Sollaataar Sora Vital
Modern English
“Gradually step back from people who pretend they cannot help and then spoil work they could have done.”
Modern Interpretation
Gradually step back from people who pretend they cannot help and then spoil work they could have done. If a teammate repeatedly avoids their part and causes missed deadlines, stop giving them important tasks.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Gradually step back from people who pretend they cannot help and then spoil work they could have done.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Without a word those friends eschew Who spoil deeds which they can do
G.U. Pope Translation
Those men who make a grievous toil of what they doOn your behalf, their friendship silently eschew
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Gradually abandon without revealing (beforehand) the friendship of those who pretend inability to carry out what they (really) could do
Tamil commentary
தம்மால் செய்யக்கூடிய உதவியையும் செய்ய முடியாதவர் போல் நடித்துச் செய்யாமல் விடுபவரின் நட்பை அவரிடம் சொல்லாமலேயே விட்டுவிடுக.
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