80.1 Choosing Friends

 80.1 Choosing Friends

 

Question:

Is it necessary to choose friends after careful consideration?

 

Answer:

Once friendship is made, it cannot be easily abandoned, and therefore

it is important not to make friends indiscriminately.                         (Couplet - 791)

A friendship made haphazardly will lead to

grievous pain till death.                                                                      (Couplet - 792)

 

நாடாது நட் டலிற் கேடில்லை நட்டபின் 

வீடில்லை நட்பாள் பவர்க்கு.                                                 (குறள் – 791)

ஆய்ந்தாய்ந்து கொள்ளாதான் கேண்மை கடைமுறை

தான்சாம் துயரம் தரும்.                                                          (குறள் – 792) 

Explanation:

            We don’t have the option to select our parents, siblings, and some of our relatives. But it is certainly possible and absolutely necessary to choose our friends after due diligence. We develop friendships with people with whom we are acquainted. Before acquaintances turn into friendships, we should make sure they are dependable and compatible people having good character. This type of due diligence is necessary because after having become friends, it is very difficult to discontinue the friendship. Friendships made without careful consideration may cause endless troubles, which may continue throughout one’s life.