Kural #791
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Tamil text
நாடாது நட்டலிற் கேடில்லை
நட்டபின் வீடில்லை நட்பாள் பவர்க்கு
Nāṭātu naṭṭaliṟ kēṭillai
Naṭṭapiṉ vīṭillai naṭpāḷ pavarkku
English translation
There is no greater ruin than befriending without testing; once befriended, there is no escape for those who value friendship.
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Explanation
This chapter's opening warns: befriending without நாடுதல் (examination/testing) leads to கேடு (ruin). Once true friendship is formed, there is no வீடு (release/escape) - it is a lifelong bond.
விளக்கம்
நண்பர்களை ஆராயாமல் சேர்வது கெடுதல் தரும். உண்மையான நட்பு ஏற்பட்ட பின், அதை விட்டுக் கொடுப்பது சரியல்ல. நட்பாராய்தல் அதிகாரத்தில், நட்பு எவ்வளவு முக்கியம் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் சொல்கிறார். நல்ல நட்பை பேணிக் காக்க வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- நாடாதுnāṭātuwithout examining
- நட்டலின்naṭṭaliṉthan befriending
- கேடுkēṭuruin
- இல்லைillaithere is not
- நட்டபின்naṭṭapiṉafter befriending
- வீடுvīṭurelease/escape
- நட்புnaṭpufriendship
- ஆள்பவர்க்குāḷpavarkkufor those who value
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun, known for his hasty decisions, quickly befriended Bala, charmed by his silver tongue. They agreed to share their harvests. The first year, Bala’s crops failed, and Arun, without hesitation, shared his bounty. The second year, Arun’s crops were damaged by a storm, and Bala offered excuses, providing only a meager portion. The third year, when both harvests were plentiful, Bala demanded the larger share, claiming an old agreement. Arun, hurt and betrayed, saw his granary dwindling due to Bala's constant demands. He realized his initial trust, based on charm and not on true character, had led him to hardship. The river continued to flow, but the friendship, once promising, now felt like a heavy stone upon Arun's heart, a burden he could not easily cast away.