Harmful Friendship
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ceytēmañ cārāc ciṟiyavar puṉkēṇmai / yeytali ṉeytāmai naṉṟu.
It is better not to acquire the poor friendship of those who fail to become protection even after help has been rendered to them.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'Tis better not to gain than gain the friendship profitless / Of men of little minds, who succour fails when dangers press.”
“Behold the vile men that forsake a trusting friend at the time of his need: it is better not to possess their friendship than to possess it.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செய்து ஏமம் சாராச் சிறியவர் புன்கேண்மை = செய்து வைத்தாலும் அரண்ஆகாத கீழ்மக்களது தீநட்பு; எய்தலின் எய்தாமை நன்று = ஒருவர்க்கு உண்டாதலின் இல்லையாதல் நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that it is better not to have than to have the poor friendship of people whose conduct fails to become a safeguard even after help has been rendered to them.