Seeking the Support of the Wise
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pallār pakaikoḷaliṟ pattaṭutta tīmaittē / nallār toṭarkai viṭal
“Than hate of many foes incurred, works greater woe / Ten-fold, of worthy men the friendship to forego.”
“It is foolish to make a multitude of foes: but it is ten times worse to give up the intimacy of the good.”
Abandoning the companionship of the good carries tenfold greater harm than making many enemies.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பல்லார் பகை கொளலின் பத்து அடுத்த தீமைத்தே= தான் தனியனாய்வைத்துப் பலரோடும் பகை கொள்ளுதலிற் பதிற்றுமடங்கு தீமை உடைத்து; நல்லார் தொடர் கைவிடல்= அரசன் பெரியாரோடு நட்பினைக் கொள்ளாது ஒழிதல்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Abandoning the cherished friendship of the noble and wise produces ten times greater ruin than incurring the open hostility of countless enemies.