Friendship
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naviṟoṟu nūṉayam pōlum payiṟoṟum / paṇpuṭai yāḷar toṭarpu.
As a fine book yields fresh delight each time it is studied, friendship with people of good character grows more rewarding with every closer acquaintance.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Learned scroll the more you ponder, Sweeter grows the mental food; / So the heart by use grows fonder, Bound in friendship with the good.”
“The friendship of the worthy is like the studying of great books: the more thou approachest them, the more charms thou wilt discover in them.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பண்புடையாளர் தொடர்பு பயில்தொறும்= நற்குணமுடைய மக்கள், தம்முள் செய்த நட்புப் பயிலுந்தோறும் அவர்க்கு இன்பம்செய்தல்; நூல் நவில்தொறும் நயம்போலும்= நூற்பொருள் கற்குந்தோறும் கற்றார்க்கு இன்பம் செய்தலை ஒக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that friendship with people of good character gives pleasure with every continued association, resembling the way a book’s meaning gives fresh delight each time a learner studies it.