Kural #826
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
நட்டார்போல் நல்லவை சொல்லினும்
ஒட்டார்சொல் ஒல்லை உணரப் படும்
Naṭṭārpōl nallavai colliṉum
Oṭṭārcol ollai uṇarap paṭum
English translation
Even if enemies speak good words like friends, their true intentions will be quickly recognized.
Listen
Explanation
False friends may imitate true friends (நட்டார் போல்) and speak good words (நல்லவை சொல்லினும்), but their insincerity will soon (ஒல்லை) be detected. Truth reveals itself; deception cannot be maintained forever.
விளக்கம்
நண்பரைப் போல் இனிமையாகப் பேசினாலும், பகைவரின் சொற்கள் விரைவில் பொய்யெனத் தெரியும். கூடா நட்பு அதிகாரத்தில், உண்மையான நண்பரை அடையாளம் காண இது உதவும். அவர்களின் உள்நோக்கம் விரைவில் வெளிப்படும்.
Word meanings
- நட்டார்naṭṭārfriends
- போல்pōllike
- நல்லவைnallavaigood things
- சொல்லினும்colliṉumeven if speaking
- ஒட்டார்oṭṭārenemies/those not attached
- சொல்colwords
- ஒல்லைollaiquickly
- உணரப்படும்uṇarappaṭumwill be recognized
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria was known for its bountiful harvests. A prosperous merchant, Silas, envied their success. He disguised himself as a friendly traveler, offering the villagers rare seeds and promising a future of endless crops. He spoke with honeyed words, praising their fields and offering advice, always subtly steering them towards his seeds. The wise elder, Elara, observed Silas's actions with a keen eye. She noticed how his words didn't match his deeds. While he spoke of generosity, he always subtly steered them towards his own profit. When a blight struck the village, Silas offered "miracle" seeds at an exorbitant price. The villagers, desperate, bought them. But the seeds yielded nothing. The villagers' true friends, the neighboring farmers, then offered them help, sharing their own harvest and knowledge. The villagers realized the traveler's true nature, his false kindness laid bare by the harsh reality. The true friends stood by them in their time of need.