Long-Standing Friendship
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aḻivanta ceyyiṉu maṉpaṟā raṉpiṉ / vaḻivanta kēṇmai yavar.
Those whose old friendship has grown along the path of love do not cease loving even when the friend does something that brings them ruin.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“True friends, well versed in loving ways, / Cease not to love, when friend their love betrays.”
“Behold the man who hath loved dearly and long: he bateth not in his affection for his friend even though he cause him damage frequently.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அழிவந்த செய்யினும் அன்பு அறார்= நட்டார் தமக்கு அழிவு வந்தவற்றைச் செய்தாராயினும் அவர்மாட்டு அன்பு ஒழியார்; அன்பின்வழிவந்த கேண்மையவர்= அன்புடனே பழையதாய் வந்த நட்பினை உடையார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that those whose old friendship has come down through love do not let their affection for a friend cease even when that friend does deeds that bring them ruin.