Tirukkural Chapter 83 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 83 - கூடா நட்பு
CHAPTER 83 - FALSE FRIENDSHIP.
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83/07. சொல்வணக்கம் ஒன்னார்கண் கொள்ளற்க வில்வணக்கம்
தீங்கு குறித்தமை யான்.

83/07. Solvannakkam onnaarkann kollarrka vilvannakkam
Theengu kurrithamai yaan.

83/07. The bow is bowing, because its arrows should kill other lives.
Like that, if an enemy talks humble words, it means to harm others.
So, their humble words must not be accepted.
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Sujata: An enemy's tongue is sweet, but his heart is bitter.
Such a man's sweet words must not be accepted.

Urmila: A good example here the poet gives.
Why a bow is bowing? Just to kill lives.
So, too much humble words
Must not be taken for granted.

There may be bad intention
Behind those sweet words spoken,
Particularly by those enemies,
Whose hearts are full of bitterness.

This kind of double standard,
If it exists among friends,
Then it is not an ideal friendship,
But a dangerous relationship.
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83/08. தொழுதகை யுள்ளும் படையொடுங்கும் ஒன்னார்;
அழுதகண் ணீரும் அனைத்து.

83/08. Thozhudhagai ullum padaiyodungum onnaar;
Azhudhakann neerum anaiththu.

83/08. If an enemy folds his hands, there may a hidden dagger inside it.
If he sheds tears, they are just to hide his harmful intentions.
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Sujata: How the poet describes the crocodile tears of an enemy
And also his possession of a dagger hidden inside his palms?

Urmila: Yes, he is not sympathetic,
But in saying, he's so emphatic,
That an enemy folding his hands,
Means a dagger is hidden in his hands.

His tears too, each tear means,
Just to hide his bad intentions,
And so, the poet discourages
One trusting such hidden enemies.

These are evergreen advices,
Not only for the bygone days,
But also for the present day world
Where tricky political games are played.
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83/09. மிகச்செய்து தம்மெள்ளு வாரை நகச்செய்து
நட்பினுள் சாப்புல்லற் பாற்று.

83/09. Mighachseidhu thammellu vaarai nagachseidhu
Natpinull saappullarr paatrru.

83/09. If one's friend is friendlier outside, but is bitter inside,
he must also make sure that fake friend laughs outside,
but inside he must behave in such a way that friend must die.
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Sujata: This is something like "Tit for Tat, "
As a nice tip from the poet.

Urmila: What the poet says is correct.
As the proverb says, in fact,
"An open enemy is better than,
A cunning friend, " inside hidden.

Where the open enemy stands,
His position one knows,
But where the hidden friend is
His position none can even guess.

As his fake friend plays
A hide and seek game,
The loser also must play
In his turn, the same game.
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(Note: Hide and seek game here means,
Hide enmity and seek friendship)
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83/10. பகைநட்பாம் காலம் வருங்கால் முகம்நட்டு
அகம்நட்பு ஒரீஇ விடல்.

83/10. Paghainatpaam kaalam varunghaal mughamnattu
Aghamnatpu oree vidal.

83/10. When an enemy wants to become a friend,
One must make friendship only by face and not by heart.
Later on that friendship by face also must be left out.
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Sujata: An enemy turned friend is not trustworthy
And one must cut off his friendship slowly.

Urmila: Just like a broken glass
Is unfit again for any reuse,
An enemy is like a broken glass,
And can never be a good friend.

Let him make friendship first
By his face, not by heart,
And slowly cut off that
‘By-face-friendship' next.

This is the advice given
By the poet, a nice one,
To avoid an enemy-turned-friend
Who can never be a close friend.
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