Kural #821
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Tamil text
சீரிடம் காணின் எறிதற்குப் பட்டடை
நேரா நிரந்தவர் நட்பு
Cīriṭam kāṇiṉ eṟitaṟkup paṭṭaṭai
Nērā nirantavar naṭpu
English translation
The friendship of those who associate without real affection is like an anvil ready to strike when the opportunity arises.
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Explanation
False friends are like an anvil (பட்டடை) - hard and unfeeling, waiting for the right moment to strike. They befriend you not out of love (நேரா) but opportunism. When they see an advantageous moment (சீரிடம்), they will strike against you just as a blacksmith strikes metal on an anvil.
விளக்கம்
கூடா நட்பதிகாரத்தில், பற்றில்லாதவரின் நட்பு பட்டடைக்கல் போலாகும். நமக்குச் சாதகமான நேரம் வரும்போது, அவர்கள் நம்மைத் தாக்கக் காத்திருப்பார்கள். ஆதாயம் தேடிப் பழகும் நட்பைத் தவிர்க்க வேண்டும். உண்மையான அன்பே நிலைக்கும்.
Word meanings
- சீர்cīradvantage/prosperity
- இடம்iṭamplace/opportunity
- காணின்kāṇiṉif seen
- எறிதற்குeṟitaṟkufor striking
- பட்டடைpaṭṭaṭaianvil
- நேராnērāwithout affection/unequal
- நிரந்தவர்nirantavarthose who associated
- நட்புnaṭpufriendship
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village, lived two merchants, Arun and Bala. Arun, known for his generosity, amassed a fortune. Bala, always smiling, feigned friendship, praising Arun's success at every turn. He'd often visit Arun, enjoying the lavish meals and borrowing small sums, always promising repayment. One year, a terrible drought struck. Arun's business suffered, and his wealth dwindled. Bala, witnessing Arun's misfortune, vanished. Days turned into weeks, and Arun struggled. Then, a wealthy merchant from a neighboring town arrived, seeking a partner. He approached Bala, unaware of his past dealings. Bala, seeing an opportunity for personal gain, spoke ill of Arun, hoping to secure the partnership for himself. He painted Arun as incompetent and unreliable. The visiting merchant, swayed by Bala's words, chose another partner. Arun, hearing of Bala's betrayal, felt a pang of sorrow. He then understood the true nature of their friendship.