Chapter 80: Testing Fitness for Friendship

Verse 800
A man is conversing with his wife when he notices a suspicious looking man outside surveilling them. Going outside, he offers the stranger a few coins to go away.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

You can access the entire text, in Tamil and English here:
Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 791

Nothing is more grievous than friendship formed without first
testing, for once adopted, it cannot be abandoned by the faithful.

Verse 792

Unless it begins with testing and proving,
friendship may end in mortal sorrow.

Verse 793

Before you befriend him, consider a man’s character,
family background, faults and faithful allies.

Verse 794

Pay any price to possess the friendship
of well-born men who cannot bear rebuke and shame.

Verse 795

Seek out and befriend those who, speaking out, move you to repent,
reprove your wrongdoing and teach you the right ways.

Verse 796

There is a benefit even in misfortune, for it is the rod
with which a man may measure the loyalty of friends.

Verse 797

To give up friendship with fools and quit their company–
such loss is said to be a man’s greatest gain.

Verse 798

Don’t dwell on thoughts that dim your spirit.
Don’t befriend those who flee you in affliction.

Verse 799

Even in the hour of death, the thoughts of friends
who left you in your hour of need will hurt the heart.

Verse 800

Hold tight to friendship with pure men;
let go of unfit fellows, even by paying them off.