Harmful Friendship
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pētai peruṅkaḻīi naṭpi ṉaṟivuṭaiyā / rētiṉmai kōṭi yuṟum.
The estrangement of a discerning person is ten million times better than intimate friendship with one acting in practical folly.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Better ten million times incur the wise man's hate, / Than form with foolish men a friendship intimate.”
“The enmity of the wise is ten million times better than the intimacy of fools.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பேதை பெருங்கழீஇ நட்பின் = அறிவுஇலானது மிகச்செறிந்த நட்பின்; அறிவுடையார் ஏதின்மை கோடி உறும் = அறிவுடையானது பகைமை கோடி மடங்கு நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the enmity or estrangement of a discerning person is a crore-fold better than intensely close friendship with one lacking practical understanding.