Long-Standing Friendship
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viḻaiyār viḻaiyap paṭupa paḻaiyārkaṭ / paṇpiṟ ṟalaippiriyā tār.
Even those who did not desire them will seek people who do not depart from their own good character toward old friends.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Ill-wishers even wish them well, who guard. / For ancient friends, their wonted kind regard.”
“Behold the men that alter not in their affection for their old friends: even enemies will look upon them with tenderness.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பழையார்கண் பண்பின் தலைப்பிரியாதார்= பழைய நட்டார் பிழை செய்தாராயினும் அவர்மாட்டுத் தம் பண்பின் நீங்காதார்; விழையார் விழையப்படுப= பகைவரானும் விரும்பப்படுவர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that people who do not depart from their own character toward old friends even when those friends err will be desired and sought even by their enemies.