Harmful Friendship
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
olluṅ karuma muṭaṟṟu pavarkēṇmai / collāṭār cōra viṭal.
Without announcing it to them, let fade the friendship of those who obstruct a task they are able to complete.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Those men who make a grievous toil of what they do / On your behalf, their friendship silently eschew.”
“Behold the men that will place obstructions on thy path while thou art at thy work: tell them not a word, but drop their friendship little by little.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒல்லும் கருமம் உடற்றுபவர் கேண்மை = தம்மான் முடியும் கருமத்தை முடியாதாக்கிச் செய்யாதாரோடு கொண்ட நட்பினை; சொல்லாடார் சோர விடல் = அது கண்டால், அவர் அறியச் சொல்லாதே சோரவிடுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains: when someone turns a task within their own power into something left impossible and undone, recognize that pattern and let the friendship slacken without announcing a discussion of it to them.