Avoiding Harmful Associations
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nalliṉatti ṉūṅkut tuṇaiyillai tīyiṉatti / ṉallaṟ paṭuppatūu mil
No support is greater than sound company, and nothing causes deeper affliction than harmful company.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Than good companionship no surer help we know; / Than bad companionship nought causes direr woe.”
“There is no greater ally to a man than good company: and nothing injureth so much as evil company.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நல்இனத்தின் ஊங்குத் துணையும் இல்லை= ஒருவற்கு நல்லினத்தின் மிக்க துணையும் இல்லை; தீயினத்தின் ஊங்கு அல்லல் படுப்பதூஉம் இல்= தீய இனத்தின் மிக்க பகையும் இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar closes the chapter with paired superlatives: sound company is the strongest ally, while harmful company is the fiercest source of trouble. Judge circles by accountable conduct rather than identity, and support safe exit from coercion without blaming those harmed.