82.4 Evil Friendship
Question:
Besides the friendship of pleasure, the friendship of utility, and the friendship of undependable people, is there another kind of friendship that is considered evil?
Answer:
The hatred of the wise is a million times better than the
excessive intimacy with a fool.
(Couplet – 816)
Gradually abandon the friendship of those who create
problems for accomplishing tasks that can be easily performed. (Couplet – 818)
Avoid association with those who are nice to you
in private and ridicule you in public. (Couplet
– 820)
Do not entertain thoughts that would restrain your
Enthusiasm, and do not have friendship with those who
forsake you in adversity. (Couplet – 798)
பேதை
பெருங்கெழீஇ நட்பின் அறிவுடையார்
ஏதின்மை கோடி
உறும். (குறள் – 816)
ஒல்லும்
கருமம் உடற்று பவர்கேண்மை
சொல்லாடார்
சோர விடல். (குறள்
– 818)
எனைத்தும்
குறுகுதல் ஓம்பல் மனைக்கெழீஇ
மன்றில்
பழிப்பார் தொடர்பு. (குறள்
– 820)
உள்ளற்க உள்ளம் சிறுகுவ கொள்ளற்க
அல்லற்கண் ஆற்றறுப்பார் நட்பு. (குறள்
– 798)
Explanation:
In
addition to the
friendships of pleasure, utility, and undependable people, Valluvar mentions four
different kinds of people
whose friendships are evil and should be avoided.
·
First,
one should avoid the friendship of fools because it is just a waste of time,
and there is no virtue in it.
·
Second,
there are those who raise objections and put-up obstacles for things that can
easily be accomplished.
·
Third,
there are those who are very loving in private and ridicule their friends in
public.
·
Fourth,
there are people who discourage their friends and curb their enthusiasm to
accomplish their goals.
