II. Porutpaal
II.6 Natpiyal
Athikaaram 79 Natpu
Kural 781
Seyarkariya yaavula natpin athupohl
Ninaikkariya yaavula kaapppu.
English translation:
II. WEALTH
II.6 chapter on Friendship
Chapter. 79 Friendship
Kural 781.
What so hard for men to gain as friendship true?
What so sure defence 'gainst all that foe can do?
What things are there so difficult to acquire as friendship ? What guards are there so difficult to break through by the efforts (of one's foes) ?
The following one has never left my memory since the day I first read it (I don't know when was that, and in which year in school I was taught. )
Kural 784.
Nahuthar poruttandru nattal. Mihuthikkan
Maerchendru idiththar poruttu.
Translation:
Kural 784:
Nor for laughter only friendship all the pleasant day,
But for strokes of sharp reproving, when from right you stray.
Friendship is to be practised not for the purpose of laughing but for that of being beforehand in giving one another sharp rebukes in case of transgression.
my understanding:
Friendship is not for pleasing each other, but to go one step ahead and point out their mistakes when commit mistakes.
my comments:
I have lost many friends because I beleived in this and they didn't. Amazingly, I still continue to beleive in this. lol.
my few other favourites:
Kural 786:
Muhanaha natpathu natpandru nenjaththu
Ahanaha natpathu natpu.
Translation:
Kural - 786
Not the face's smile of welcome shows the friend sincere,
But the heart's rejoicing gladness when the friend is near.
The love that dwells (merely in the smiles of the face is not friendship; (but) that which dwells deep in the smiles of the heart is true friendship.
Kural 788:
Udukkai izhanthavan kaipohla aangae
Idukkan Kalaivathaam natpu.
Translation:
Kural - 788
As hand of him whose vesture slips away,
Friendship at once the coming grief will stay.
(True) friendship hastens to the rescue of the afflicted (as readily) as the hand of one whose garment is loosened (before an assembly).
My understanding:
what Friendship is, the one that will come to rescue in need, in the same way as one's hand will respond when his/her clothe falls, leaving him/her naked in the public.
my comments:
here, he gives this situation as example, because, the response of the hand will be within a fraction of a second after one looses his/her clothe. he/she would not have had time to think/analyse to rescue or not.. a friendship has to be like that. that is what he means here.
Other kurals are:
Kural - 782
Friendship with men fulfilled of good Waxes like the crescent moon;
Friendship with men of foolish mood, Like the full orb, waneth soon.
The friendship of the wise waxes like the new moon; (but) that of fools wanes like the full moon.
Kural - 783
Learned scroll the more you ponder, Sweeter grows the mental food;
So the heart by use grows fonder, Bound in friendship with the good.
Like learning, the friendship of the noble, the more it is cultivated, the more delightful does it become.
Kural - 785
Not association constant, not affection's token bind;
'Tis the unison of feeling friends unites of kindred mind.
Living together and holding frequent intercourse are not necessary (for friendship); (mutual) understanding can alone create a claim for it.
my comment:
here he means about relationships. He says that
for a good relationship there is no need to have physical relationship, having very good understanding of each other's heart will alone yield a better relationship.
Kural - 787
Friendship from ruin saves, in way of virtue keeps;
In troublous time, it weeps with him who weeps.
(True) friendship turns aside from evil (ways) makes (him) walk in the (good) way, and, in case of loss if shares his sorrow (with him).
Kural - 789
And where is friendship's royal seat? In stable mind,
Where friend in every time of need support may find.
Friendship may be said to be on its throne when it possesses the power of supporting one at all times and under all circumstances, (in the practice or virtue and wealth).
Kural - 790
Mean is the friendship that men blazon forth,
'He's thus to me' and 'such to him my worth'.
Though friends may praise one another saying, "He is so intimate with us, and we so much (with him)"; (still) such friendship will appear mean.
PS:
There are seventeen chapters for "friendship", totalling to 170 kurals!!!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2005 11:59AM by prema1.
