Kural #882
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Tamil text
வாள்போல் பகைவரை அஞ்சற்க
அஞ்சுக கேள்போல் பகைவர் தொடர்பு
Vāḷpōl pakaivarai añcaṟka
Añcuka kēḷpōl pakaivar toṭarpu
English translation
Fear not enemies who are like swords; fear the association of enemies who appear as friends.
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Explanation
Open enemies (வாள் போல் - like swords) are less dangerous than hidden enemies who pretend friendship. An obvious sword can be avoided; a false friend strikes unexpectedly.
விளக்கம்
உட்பகை அதிகாரத்தில், வெளிப்படையான பகைவரை விட, நண்பர் போல் நடிக்கும் பகைவரே ஆபத்தானவர். வாள் போன்ற பகைவர் தெரியும் ஆபத்து; ஆனால், உறவினர் போல் உள்ள பகைவர் மறைந்திருந்து தீங்கு செய்வர். ஆகையால், போலியான நட்பை நம்பாதே.
Word meanings
- வாள்vāḷsword
- போல்pōllike
- பகைவர்pakaivarenemies
- அஞ்சற்கañcaṟkado not fear
- அஞ்சுகañcukafear
- கேள்kēḷfriend/relative
- தொடர்புtoṭarpuassociation/connection
Story behind this kural
The old village of Eldoria was often raided by bandits. The villagers, armed with spears and shields, always drove them back. They knew their enemies, saw their faces, and prepared for their attacks. One year, a charming merchant named Silas arrived. He offered to help, befriending the villagers and offering them gifts. He learned their defenses, their routines, and the locations of their hidden stores. Silas hosted feasts, laughed with the children, and even advised the village elder on improving their defenses. The villagers, grateful for his kindness, welcomed him into their homes and trusted him implicitly. One moonless night, the bandits returned, but this time, they knew the village's weaknesses. The defenses were easily bypassed, the stores plundered. The villagers, caught completely unaware, suffered great losses. Silas, it turned out, was the bandits' informant.