Long-Standing Friendship
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naṭpiṟkuṟuppuk keḻutakaimai maṟṟataṟ / kuppātal cāṉṟōr kaṭaṉ.
Familiar freedom is a constituent part of friendship; to become its salt by receiving that liberty graciously is the responsibility of people of mature character.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Familiar freedom friendship's very frame supplies; / To be its savour sweet is duty of the wise.”
“To be free and easy with each other, that is the heart of true friendship: and it is the part of worthy men never to resent such familiarities.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நட்பிற்கு உறுப்புக் கெழுதகைமை= நட்பிற்கு அவயவம் ஆவன நட்டார் உரிமையான் செய்வன; அதற்கு உப்பாதல் சான்றோர் கடன்= அதனால் அவ்வுரிமைக்கு இனியராதல் அமைந்தார்க்கு முறைமை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that acts performed through a friend’s familiar liberty are constituents of friendship. The fitting response of a mature person is to become their salt—to receive that liberty in a way that gives it pleasant savour.