False Friendship
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palanalla kaṟṟak kaṭaittu maṉanalla / rākutaṉ māṇārk karitu.
Even after learning many good teachings, those who continue to choose hostility rarely become good-hearted through learning alone.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To heartfelt goodness men ignoble hardly may attain, / Although abundant stores of goodly lore they gain.”
“Even if his studies are great and godly, it is impossible for an enemy to cast off the hate in his heart.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நல்ல பல கற்றக் கடைத்தும்= நல்லன பலநூல்களைக் கற்றவிடத்தும்; மனம் நல்லர் ஆகுதல் மாணார்க்கு அரிது= அதனான் மனம்திருந்தி நட்பாதல் பகைவர்க்கு இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that even after studying many works that teach goodness, a person who remains deliberately hostile does not become a true friend through learning alone. Māṇār here does not condemn people with less education or declare anyone permanently incapable of change; it names those who continue to choose enmity. Knowledge is valuable, but inward reform requires accepting what was learned, repairing harm, and acting fairly over time.