Kural #813
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Tamil text
உறுவது சீர்தூக்கும் நட்பும்
பெறுவது கொள்வாரும் கள்வரும் நேர்
Uṟuvatu cīrtūkkum naṭpum
Peṟuvatu koḷvārum kaḷvarum nēr
English translation
Those who weigh their gain before friendship, and those who take all they can get, are equal to thieves.
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Explanation
Friends who calculate benefit (உறுவது சீர்தூக்கும்) before befriending and those who grab all they can (பெறுவது கொள்வார்) are no different from thieves (கள்வர்).
விளக்கம்
நமக்கு என்ன கிடைக்கும் என யோசித்து நட்பு கொள்பவரும், கிடைப்பதை எல்லாம் பறிப்பவரும் திருடருக்கு சமம். தீய நட்பு அதிகாரத்தில் இது நட்பின் கெடுதலைக் காட்டுகிறது. சுயநலமில்லா நட்பே சிறந்தது.
Word meanings
- உறுவதுuṟuvatuwhat will come
- சீர்cīrworth
- தூக்கும்tūkkumweighing
- நட்பும்naṭpumfriendship also
- பெறுவதுpeṟuvatuwhat is gotten
- கொள்வாரும்koḷvārumthose who take
- கள்வரும்kaḷvarumthieves also
- நேர்nērequal
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived two merchants, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his generous spirit, always ready to lend a hand or share his goods. Bala, however, was shrewd. He befriended Arun, but only when it benefited his own trade. One year, a great drought struck. Arun’s stores dwindled, and his business suffered. Bala, though prosperous, distanced himself, finding new friends among those who still held wealth. He offered Arun only the bare minimum of help, always calculating the cost. Then, the rains returned, and Arun's fortunes revived. He remembered Bala's actions during the hardship but bore no ill will. He found Bala struggling to sell his goods and offered assistance, not for gain, but out of genuine goodwill. Bala, surprised, accepted. He realized the true value of a friend.