Harmful Friendship
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parukuvār pōliṉum paṇpilār kēṇmai / perukaliṟ kuṉṟa liṉitu.
Even if they appear to drink one in with affection, the friendship of people without good character is better diminished than increased.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though evil men should all-absorbing friendship show, / Their love had better die away than grow.”
“Behold the men who look as if they would eat thee up for very love, but who love thee not in their hearts: their friendship is sweeter in the waning than in the waxing.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பருகுவார் போலினும் பண்பு இலார் கேண்மை= காதன்மிகுதியான் பருகுவார் போன்றார் ஆயினும் தீக்குணமுடையார் நட்பு; பெருகலின் குன்றல் இனிது= வளர்தலின் தேய்தல் நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that even when people of harmful character appear, through excessive affection, as though they would drink one in, it is better for their friendship to diminish than to grow.