Kural #802
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Tamil text
நட்பிற் குறுப்புக் கெழுதகைமை
மற்றதற்கு உப்பாதல் சான்றோர் கடன்
Naṭpiṟ kuṟuppuk keḻutakaimai
Maṟṟataṟku uppātal cāṉṟōr kaṭaṉ
English translation
Intimacy is the essence of friendship; responding to it appropriately is the duty of the noble.
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Explanation
கெழுதகைமை (intimacy/familiarity) is the குறுப்பு (limb/essential part) of friendship. Reciprocating appropriately (உப்பாதல் - being the salt/seasoning) is the கடன் (duty) of the noble.
விளக்கம்
நட்புக்கு நெருக்கம் முக்கியம். அந்த நெருக்கத்தை மதித்து, அன்போடு பதில் சொல்வது சான்றோரின் கடமை. பழைய நட்பை பேணுவது பொருள் போன்ற மதிப்புடையது என்பதை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- நட்பிற்குnaṭpiṟkufor friendship
- உறுப்புuṟuppulimb/part
- கெழுதகைமைkeḻutakaimaiintimacy
- மற்றுmaṟṟufurther
- அதற்குataṟkufor that
- உப்புuppusalt
- ஆதல்ātalbeing
- சான்றோர்cāṉṟōrthe noble
- கடன்kaṭaṉduty
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two friends, Elara and Rohan. Elara, a kind potter, gifted Rohan, a traveling merchant, a beautiful clay jug. Rohan, in turn, often shared exotic spices and tales of faraway lands with Elara. One harsh winter, Rohan's caravan was caught in a blizzard, and he returned to the village, penniless and weary. He sought shelter at Elara's door. Elara welcomed him without hesitation, offering warm food and a place by the fire. She even sold her best pots to help him regain his livelihood. Later, as Rohan prospered, he returned to the village, adorned in fine silks and jewels. He saw Elara, still working with clay, her hands worn. He presented her with a small, ornate box filled with gold coins, a gesture that felt distant and impersonal. Elara accepted it with a quiet smile, but a subtle sadness clouded her eyes. The jug, once a symbol of their bond, now stood empty, gathering dust.