False Friendship
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cīriṭaṅ kāṇi ṉeṟitaṟkup paṭṭaṭai / nērā nirantavar naṭpu.
The friendship of those inwardly opposed, who remain close until they find the right opening, is an anvil that supports the blow.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Anvil where thou shalt smitten be, when men occasion find, / Is friendship's form without consenting mind.”
“The friendship that an enemy pretendeth is only an anvil whereon to hammer thee when he seeth his opportunity.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நேரா நிரந்தவர் நட்பு= கூடாதிருந்தே தமக்கு வாய்க்குமிடம் பெறுந்துணையும் கூடியொழுகுவார் நட்பு; சீரிடம் காணின் எறிதற்குப் பட்டடை= அதுபெற்றால், அற எறிதற்குத் துணையாய பட்டடையாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that people inwardly incompatible may act close until an advantageous opening appears; when it does, their friendship becomes an anvil supporting a thorough blow. An anvil does not strike, but it makes the strike effective by supporting it. Likewise, false closeness may supply information, access, timing, or trust for concealed hostility. Ordinary disagreement, privacy, facial expression, or awkwardness is not evidence; the pattern requires corroborated purpose, waiting for opportunity, and use of closeness to enable harm.