Examining Friendship
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kēṭṭiṉu muṇṭō ruṟuti kiḷaiñarai / nīṭṭi yaḷappatōr kōl.
“Ruin itself one blessing lends: / 'Tis staff that measures out one's friends.”
“There is a virtue even in misfortune: for it is the rod wherewith to measure thy friends.”
Even adversity holds one benefit: it is a measuring rod that reveals the full measure of one’s associates.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கிளைஞரை நீட்டி அளப்பது ஓர் கோல்= ஒருவனுக்குக் கேடென்பது தன் நட்டாராகிய புலன்களை எஞ்சாமல் அளப்பதோர் கோல்; கேட்டினும் ஓர் உறுதி உண்டு= ஆகலின் அதன்கண்ணும் அவனாற் பெறப்படுவதோர் நல்லறிவு உண்டு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even in adversity there is an unexpected blessing: it serves as the truest measuring rod to test and reveal the genuine loyalty of one's companions.