Internal Enmity
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niḻaṉīru miṉṉāta viṉṉa tamarnīru / miṉṉāvā miṉṉā ceyiṉ.
“Water and shade, if they unwholesome prove, will bring you pain. / And qualities of friends who treacherous act, will be your bane.”
“Even groves and fountains give no joy if they breed disease: even so kinsmen too are an abomination when they seek one’s ruin.”
Even shade and water become painful when they cause illness; so do the qualities of intimates when their conduct causes harm.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நிழல் நீரும் இன்னாத இன்னா= ஒருவனுக்கு அனுபவிக்க வேண்டுவனவாய நிழலும் நீரும் முன் இனியவேனும் பின் நோய்செய்வன இன்னாவாம்; தமர் நீரும் இன்னாசெயின் இன்னாவாம்= அதுபோலத் தழுவவேண்டுனவாய தமர் இயல்புகளும், முன் இனியவேனும் பின் இன்னாசெய்வன இன்னாவாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Just as cooling shade and refreshing water turn into misery if they breed disease, even so the traits of intimate kin become unbearable torment when they inflict injury.