Examining Friendship
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maruvuka mācaṟṟār kēṇmaiyoṉ ṟīttu / moruvuka voppilār naṭpu.
Cultivate the friendship of those free from blame; if already bound to people whose conduct does not accord with the right way, give even something they seek and leave that friendship.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Cling to the friendship of the spotless one's; whate'er you pay. / Renounce alliance with the men of evil way.”
“Cultivate with ardour the friendship of the pure; as to men that are unworthy of thee, discard thou their association even if it be by giving them a present.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மாசு அற்றார் கேண்மை மருவுக= உலகோடு ஒத்துக் குற்றமற்றார் நட்பினையே பயில்க; ஒப்பு இலார் நட்பு ஒன்று ஈத்தும் ஒருவுக= உலகத்தோடு ஒத்தில்லார் நட்பினை அறியாது கொண்டாராயின், அவர் வேண்டியது ஒன்றனைக் கொடுத்தாயினும் விடுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that one should cultivate only the friendship of people who accord with accepted conduct and are free from blame. If friendship was unknowingly formed with people who do not accord with that way, one should leave even by giving them something they desire. Oppilār must be read through conduct, not as lesser birth, caste, race, class, wealth, poverty, disability, or popularity. A modern cost may be an agreed payment, time, convenience, access, or opportunity; the line does not require submitting to extortion or trading away safety.