Tirukural – Chapter 82
Chapter 82: Harmful Friendship
Verse 816
A knowledgeable scholar is seated on the floor at his desk. He is looking sternly at and correcting his young prodigy, who hangs his head in shame for some shortcomings. Still the youth values the teacher’s friendship more than those outside the compound who are indolent and foolish.
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Weaver’s Wisdom
Verse 811
Though unscrupulous men may seem to consume you in friendship,
their companionship grows more delightful as it declines.
Verse 812
What does it matter if one gains or loses the friendship
of manipulators who befriend to gain and otherwise forsake?
Verse 813
Prostitutes, thieves and people who make friends
to make money are all alike.
Verse 814
Some men are like an untrained horse that throws its rider
on the battlefield. Loneliness is better than their friendship.
Verse 815
Better to give up than to gain the friendship of inferior men
who stay away when they should stay and help.
Verse 816
The enmity of the wise is ten million times
better than intimate friendship with fools.
Verse 817
An enemy’s rancor is a hundred million times more worthwhile
than companionship with fellows who always clown around.
Verse 818
If friends feign inability to discharge reasonable tasks,
remain silent and gradually give up their friendship.
Verse 819
The fellowship of men whose acts
belie their spoken words is bitter, even in dreams.
Verse 820
There are men who will cherish you in private but censure you
in public–avoid their every befriending approach.
One Response to “Tirukural – Chapter 82”
From Our Gurus' Teachings
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April 4th, 2022 at 4:47 pm
“AUM”!.