Chapter 89: Enmity within

நிழல்நீரும் இன்னாத இன்னா தமர்நீரும்
இன்னாவாம் இன்னா செயின்.

Nizhalneerum Innaadha Innaa Thamarneerum
Innaavaam Innaa Seyin

Traitorous kinsmen will make you sad As water and shade do harm when bad

Meaning: Shade and water are not pleasant, (if) they cause disease; so are the qualities of (one's) relations not agreeable, (if) they cause pain

வாள்போல பகைவரை அஞ்சற்க அஞ்சுக
கேள்போல் பகைவர் தொடர்பு.

Vaalpola Pakaivarai Anjarka Anjuka
Kelpol Pakaivar Thotarpu

You need not sword-like kinsmen fear Fear foes who feign as kinsmen dear

Meaning: Fear not foes (who say they would cut) like a sword; (but) fear the friendship of foes (who seemingly

உட்பகை அஞ்சித்தற் காக்க உலைவிடத்து
மட்பகையின் மாணத் தெறும்.

Utpakai Anjiththar Kaakka Ulaivitaththu
Matpakaiyin Maanath Therum

The secret foe in days evil Will cut you, beware, like potters' steel

Meaning: Fear internal enmity and guard yourself; (if not) it will destroy (you) in an evil hour, as surely as the tool which cuts the potter's clay

மனமாணா உட்பகை தோன்றின் இனமாணா
ஏதம் பலவும் தரும்.

Manamaanaa Utpakai Thondrin Inamaanaa
Edham Palavum Tharum

The evil-minded foe within Foments trouble, spoils kinsmen!

Meaning: The secret enmity of a person whose mind in unreformed will lead to many evils causing disaffection among (one's) relations

உறல்முறையான் உட்பகை தோன்றின் இறல்முறையான்
ஏதம் பலவும் தரும்.

Uralmuraiyaan Utpakai Thondrin Iralmuraiyaan
Edham Palavum Tharum

A traitor among kinsmen will Bring life-endangering evil

Meaning: If there appears internal hatred in a (king's) family; it will lead to many a fatal crime

ஒன்றாமை ஒன்றியார் கட்படின் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
பொன்றாமை ஒன்றல் அரிது.

Ondraamai Ondriyaar Katpatin Egngnaandrum
Pondraamai Ondral Aridhu

Discord in kings' circle entails Life-destroying deadly evils

Meaning: If hatred arises among (one's) own people, it will be hardly possible (for one) to escape death

செப்பின் புணர்ச்சிபோல் கூடினும் கூடாதே
உட்பகை உற்ற குடி.

Seppin Punarchchipol Kootinum Kootaadhe
Utpakai Utra Kuti

A house hiding hostiles in core Just seems on like the lid in jar

Meaning: Never indeed will a family subject to internal hatred unite (really) though it may present an apparent union like that of a casket and its lid

அரம்பொருத பொன்போலத் தேயும் உரம்பொருது
உட்பகை உற்ற குடி.

Aramporudha Ponpolath Theyum Uramporudhu
Utpakai Utra Kuti

By secret spite the house wears out Like gold crumbling by file's contact

Meaning: A family subject to internal hatred will wear out and lose its strength like iron that has been filed away

எட்பக வன்ன சிறுமைத்தே ஆயினும்
உட்பகை உள்ளதாங் கேடு.

Etpaka Vanna Sirumaiththe Aayinum
Utpakai Ulladhaang Ketu

Ruin lurks in enmity As slit in sesame though it be

Meaning: Although internal hatred be as small as the fragment of the sesamum (seed), still does destruction dwell in it

உடம்பாடு இலாதவர் வாழ்க்கை குடங்கருள்
பாம்போடு உடனுறைந் தற்று.

Utampaatu Ilaadhavar Vaazhkkai Kutangarul
Paampotu Utanurain Thatru

Dwell with traitors that hate in heart Is dwelling with snake in selfsame hut

Meaning: Living with those who do not agree (with one) is like dwelling with a cobra (in the same) hut