Examining Friendship
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maruvuka mācaṟṟār kēṇmaiyoṉ ṟīttu / moruvuka voppilār naṭpu.
“Cling to the friendship of the spotless one's; whate'er you pay. / Renounce alliance with the men of evil way.”
“Cultivate with ardour the friendship of the pure; as to men that are unworthy of thee, discard thou their association even if it be by giving them a present.”
Cultivate the friendship of those free from blame; if already bound to people whose conduct does not accord with the right way, give even something they seek and leave that friendship.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மாசு அற்றார் கேண்மை மருவுக= உலகோடு ஒத்துக் குற்றமற்றார் நட்பினையே பயில்க; ஒப்பு இலார் நட்பு ஒன்று ஈத்தும் ஒருவுக= உலகத்தோடு ஒத்தில்லார் நட்பினை அறியாது கொண்டாராயின், அவர் வேண்டியது ஒன்றனைக் கொடுத்தாயினும் விடுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Cultivate the friendship of spotless and noble souls; as for association with the unworthy who lack goodness, cast it off even if you must pay a heavy price to depart.