Kural #790
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Tamil text
இனையர் இவரெமக்கு இன்னம்யாம் என்று
புனையினும் புல்லென்னும் நட்பு
Iṉaiyar ivareṉmakku iṉṉamyām eṉṟu
Puṉaiyiṉum pulleṉṉum naṭpu
English translation
Friendship that requires explanations like "These are my friends, I am theirs" becomes diminished.
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Explanation
True friendship needs no announcement or explanation. Having to say "இனையர் இவர் எமக்கு" (these are our friends) or declare relationships publicly actually diminishes (புல்லென்னும்) the friendship.
விளக்கம்
நட்பு என்பது இயல்பாக இருக்க வேண்டும். "இவர் என் நண்பர், நான் இவர் நண்பர்" என்று சொல்லித்தான் நட்பை உறுதிப்படுத்தணும்னா, அந்த நட்பு வலிமை இல்லாதது. உண்மையான நட்பு வார்த்தைகளால் சொல்லத் தேவையில்லை, செயலால் தெரியும்.
Word meanings
- இனையர்iṉaiyarsuch are they
- இவர்ivarthese
- எமக்குemakkuto us
- இன்னம்iṉṉamsuch
- யாம்yāmwe
- என்றுeṉṟusaying
- புனையினும்puṉaiyiṉumeven if adorned/declared
- புல்லென்னும்pulleṉṉumbecomes diminished
- நட்புnaṭpufriendship
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Their fields bordered each other, and they shared tools, laughter, and the bounty of their harvests. One day, a wealthy merchant, impressed by their prosperity, offered to sponsor them. "Declare yourselves my partners," he boomed, "and I shall ensure your success!" Arun, eager for the merchant's resources, readily agreed, proudly announcing their partnership to the entire village. Bala, however, remained silent, continuing to share his produce with Arun as before. The merchant provided new plows and irrigation, and Arun's field flourished. But their shared joy withered, replaced by the merchant's demands and Arun’s boastful pronouncements of their alliance. Bala's crops, though less grand, still thrived. He continued to share his harvest with Arun, but the merchant's influence created a distance between them. Soon, Arun, preoccupied with his new status, forgot the quiet, unspoken bond that once held them together. Their friendship, once strong as the ancient oaks, began to fade.