Long-Standing Friendship
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ellaikka ṇiṉṟār tuṟavār tolaiviṭattun / tollaikka ṇiṉṟār toṭarpu.
Those who stay within friendship’s proper bounds will not abandon the bond of a friend who has stood with them from of old, even when loss comes through that friend.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who stand within the bounds quit not, though loss impends, / Association with the old familiar friends.”
“The perfect friend giveth not up the friend of his heart even though he hath been the cause of his ruin.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
எல்லைக்கண் நின்றார்= நட்பு வரம்பு இகவாது அதன்கண்ணே நின்றவர்; தொல்லைக்கண் நின்றார் தொடர்பு தொலைவிடத்தும் துறவார்= தம்மொடு பழைமையில் திரியாது நின்றாரது நட்பினை அவரால் தொலைவு வந்த இடத்தும் விடார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that one who has remained within friendship’s proper bounds will not give up the bond of a friend who has stood constant from of old, even when loss has come through that friend.