Kural #806
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Tamil text
எல்லைக்கண் நின்றார் துறவார்
தொலைவிடத்தும் தொல்லைக்கண் நின்றார் தொடர்பு
Elllaikkaṇ niṉṟār tuṟavār
Tolaiviṭattum tollaikkaṇ niṉṟār toṭarpu
English translation
Those who stand by the boundary of old friendship will not abandon it even in utter ruin.
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Explanation
Those who honor the எல்லை (boundary/limit) of old friendship (தொல்லை) will never abandon (துறவார்) the connection (தொடர்பு), even in complete ruin (தொலைவிடத்தும்).
விளக்கம்
பழைய நட்பின் எல்லையை மதித்து நடப்பவர், அழிவு வந்தபோதும் நட்பை விடமாட்டார். பழைமை அதிகாரத்தில் வரும் இது, உண்மையான நட்பு எக்காலத்தும் மாறாது என்பதை உணர்த்துகிறது. நட்பை பேணிக் காப்பதே அறம்.
Word meanings
- எல்லைக்கண்ellaikkaṇin the boundary
- நின்றார்niṉṟārthose who stand
- துறவார்tuṟavārwill not abandon
- தொலைவிடத்தும்tolaiviṭattumeven in utter ruin
- தொல்லைக்கண்tollaikkaṇin old times
- நின்றார்niṉṟārthose who stood
- தொடர்புtoṭarpuconnection
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two friends, Arun and Bala. They had known each other since they were children, sharing laughter and secrets under the banyan tree. Arun, a skilled carpenter, prospered, building fine homes for the wealthy. Bala, a farmer, faced lean years, his crops often failing. When a great famine struck, Arun’s business thrived, while Bala’s fields lay barren. Villagers whispered that Bala should be abandoned, a burden. Arun, however, remembered the shared childhood games, the comfort found in shared hardship. He saw not a burden, but a friend. Arun, despite the protests of his advisors, shared his wealth. He provided food and work for Bala, helping him replant his fields. When the rains finally returned, Bala's harvest was plentiful. Their friendship, forged in childhood and tested by hardship, remained unbroken, a beacon of loyalty in a world of shifting fortunes.