Friendship
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nakutaṟ poruṭṭaṉṟu naṭṭaṉ mikutikkaṇ / mēṟceṉ ṟiṭittaṟ poruṭṭu.
“Nor for laughter only friendship all the pleasant day, / But for strokes of sharp reproving, when from right you stray.”
“The object of friendship is not merrymaking: but the restraining and reproving of oneself when one goeth astray.”
Friendship is not formed merely for shared laughter; it exists also to step forward and firmly reprove a friend when that friend goes too far in harmful conduct.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நட்டல் நகுதற் பொருட்டன்று= ஒருவனோடு ஒருவன் நட்புச்செய்தல் தம்முள் நகுதற்கு இயைந்தன சொல்லி நகையாடல் பொருட்டன்று; மிகுதிக்கண் மேற்சென்று இடித்தல் பொருட்டு= அவர்க்கு வேண்டாதன செய்கை உளதாயவழி முற்பட்டுக் கழறுதற் பொருட்டு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Friendship is formed not merely for mutual laughter and light banter, but to step forward courageously and firmly reprove a friend when they stray into error.