Harmful Friendship
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nakaivakaiya rākiya naṭpiṟ pakaivarāṟ / pattaṭutta kōṭi yuṟum.
What comes from open enemies is ten crores better than friendship formed with those who make one an object of laughter.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“From foes ten million fold a greater good you gain, / Than friendship yields that's formed with laughers vain.”
“The hate of enemies is a hundred million times more valuable than the friendship of boon companions and flatterers.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நகை வகையர் ஆகிய நட்பின் = தாம் அறிதல் வகையர் ஆகாது, நகுதல் வகையர் ஆதற்கு ஏதுவாகிய நட்பான் வருவனவற்றின்; பகைவரால் பத்து அடுத்த கோடி உறும் = பகைவரான் வருவன பத்துக்கோடி மடங்கு நல்ல.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that what comes from enemies is ten crores better than what comes from friendship that, instead of enabling one to be understood, makes one a type or object of laughter.