Examining Friendship
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kuṭippiṟantu taṉkaṭ paḻināṇu vāṉaik / koṭuttuṅ koḷalvēṇṭu naṭpu.
One should secure, even at some cost, the friendship of a person born to high status who feels shame at blame against himself.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who, born of noble race, from guilt would shrink with shame, / Pay any price so you as friend that man may claim.”
“Behold the man who is born of a good family and who dreadeth disgrace: one ought to acquire his friendship even by paying a price for it if necessary.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
குடிப்பிறந்து தன்கண் பழிநாணுவானை= உயர்ந்த குடியின்கண் பிறந்து, தன் மாட்டு உலகர் சொல்லும் பழிக்கு அஞ்சுவானை; கொடுத்தும் நட்புக் கொளல் வேண்டும்= சில கொடுத்தாயினும் நட்புக் கோடல் சிறந்தது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that it is excellent to obtain, even by giving something, the friendship of a person born in a high lineage who fears the blame the world may direct at him. High birth is an explicit historical social criterion and must not be disguised. It is not endorsed as a modern rule: caste, race, class, wealth, and family name do not determine human worth or fitness for friendship. A humane modern response can value observable accountability and willingly spend time or effort to cultivate such a friendship.