II. Porutpaal

II.6 Natpiyal


Athikaaram 88 Pahaiththirantherithal

Kural 871

Pahaiennnum panbi lathanai oruvan
Nahaiyaeyum Vaendarpaatrum andru.


English translation:

II. WEALTH

II.6 chapter on Friendship


Chapter. 88 Knowing the degree of hate


Kural 871

For Hate, that ill-conditioned thing not e'en in jest.
Let any evil longing rule your breast.
The evil of hatred is not of a nature to be desired by one even in sport.


Other kurals:

Kural - 872
Although you hate incur of those whose ploughs are bows,
Make not the men whose ploughs are words your foes!
Though you may incur the hatred of warriors whose ploughs are bows, incur not that of ministers whose ploughs are words.

Kural - 873
Than men of mind diseased, a wretch more utterly forlorn,
Is he who stands alone, object of many foeman's scorn.
He who being alone, incurs the hatred of many is more infatuated than even mad men.

Kural - 874
The world secure on his dexterity depends,
Whose worthy rule can change his foes to friends.
The world abides in the greatness of that good-natured man who behaves so as to turn hatred into friendship.

Kural - 875
Without ally, who fights with twofold enemy o'ermatched,
Must render one of these a friend attached.
He who is alone and helpless while his foes are two should secure one of them as an agreeable help (to himself).

Kural - 876
Whether you trust or not, in time of sore distress,
Questions of diff'rence or agreement cease to press.
Though (one's foe is) aware or not of one's misfortune one should act so as neither to join nor separate (from him).

Kural - 877
To those who know them not, complain not of your woes;
Nor to your foeman's eyes infirmities disclose.
Relate not your suffering even to friends who are ignorant of it, nor refer to your weakness in the presence of your foes.

Kural - 878
Know thou the way, then do thy part, thyself defend;
Thus shall the pride of those that hate thee have an end.
The joy of one's foes will be destroyed if one guards oneself by knowing the way (of acting) and securing assistance.

Kural - 879
Destroy the thorn, while tender point can work thee no offence;
Matured by time, 'twill pierce the hand that plucks it thence.
A thorny tree should be felled while young, (for) when it is grown it will destroy the hand of the feller.

Kural - 880
But breathe upon them, and they surely die,
Who fail to tame the pride of angry enemy.
Those who do not destroy the pride of those who hate (them) will certainly not exist even to breathe.