Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Friendship (நட்பியல்) — Knowing the Quality of Hate (பகைத்திறந்தெரிதல்)

Kural 871:
பகைஎன்னும் பண்பி லதனை ஒருவன்
நகையேயும் வேண்டற்பாற்று அன்று.
pakaiennum paNpi ladhanai oruvan
nakaiyaeyum vaendaRpaatru andru
English couplet:
For Hate, that ill-conditioned thing not e'en in jest.
Let any evil longing rule your breast.
Explanation: The evil of hatred is not of a nature to be desired by one even in sport.

Kural 872:
வில்லேர் உழவர் பகைகொளினும் கொள்ளற்க
சொல்லேர் உழவர் பகை.
villaer uzhavar pakaikoLinum koLLaRka
sollaer uzhavar pagai
English couplet:
Although you hate incur of those whose ploughs are bows,
Make not the men whose ploughs are words your foes!.
Explanation: Though you may incur the hatred of warriors whose ploughs are bows, incur not that of ministers whose ploughs are words.

Kural 873:
ஏமுற் றவரினும் ஏழை தமியனாய்ப்
பல்லார் பகைகொள் பவன்.
EmuR Ravarinum Ezhai thamiyanaaip
pallaar pakaikoL pavan
English couplet:
Than men of mind diseased, a wretch more utterly forlorn,
Is he who stands alone, object of many foeman's scorn.
Explanation: He who being alone, incurs the hatred of many is more infatuated than even mad men.

Kural 874:
பகைநட்பாக் கொண்டொழுகும் பண்புடை யாளன்
தகைமைக்கண் தங்கிற்று உலகு.
pakainhatpaak koNtozhukum paNpudai yaaLan
thakaimaikkaN thangitru ulaku
English couplet:
The world secure on his dexterity depends,
Whose worthy rule can change his foes to friends.
Explanation: The world abides in the greatness of that good-natured man who behaves so as to turn hatred into friendship.

Kural 875:
தன்துணை இன்றால் பகையிரண்டால் தான்ஒருவன்
இன்துணையாக் கொள்கவற்றின் ஒன்று.
than-thuNai indraal pakaiyiraNdaal thaanoruvan
in-thuNaiyaak koLkavatrin ondru
English couplet:
Without ally, who fights with twofold enemy o'ermatched,
Must render one of these a friend attached.
Explanation: He who is alone and helpless while his foes are two should secure one of them as an agreeable help (to himself).

Kural 876:
தேறினும் தேறா விடினும் அழிவின்கண்
தேறான் பகாஅன் விடல்.
ThaeRinum thaeRaa vitinum azhivin-kaN
thaeRaan pakaaan vidal
English couplet:
Whether you trust or not, in time of sore distress,
Questions of diff'rence or agreement cease to press.
Explanation: Though (one's foe is) aware or not of one's misfortune one should act so as neither to join nor separate (from him).

Kural 877:
நோவற்க நொந்தது அறியார்க்கு மேவற்க
மென்மை பகைவர் அகத்து.
noavaRka nondhadhu aRiyaarkku maevaRka
menmai pakaivar agaththu
English couplet:
To those who know them not, complain not of your woes;
Nor to your foeman's eyes infirmities disclose.
Explanation: Relate not your suffering even to friends who are ignorant of it, nor refer to your weakness in the presence of your foes.

Kural 878:
வகையறிந்து தற்செய்து தற்காப்ப மாயும்
பகைவர்கண் பட்ட செருக்கு.
vakaiyaRindhu thaRseydhu thaRkaappa maayum
pakaivarkaN patta serukku
English couplet:
Know thou the way, then do thy part, thyself defend;
Thus shall the pride of those that hate thee have an end.
Explanation: The joy of one's foes will be destroyed if one guards oneself by knowing the way (of acting) and securing assistance.

Kural 879:
இளைதாக முள்மரம் கொல்க களையுநர்
கைகொல்லும் காழ்த்த இடத்து.
iLaidhaaka muLmaram kolka kaLaiyunhar
kaikollum kaazhththa idaththu
English couplet:
Destroy the thorn, while tender point can work thee no offence;
Matured by time, 'twill pierce the hand that plucks it thence.
Explanation: A thorny tree should be felled while young, (for) when it is grown it will destroy the hand of the feller.

Kural 880:
உயிர்ப்ப உளரல்லர் மன்ற செயிர்ப்பவர்
செம்மல் சிதைக்கலா தார்.
uyirppa uLarallar mandra seyirppavar
semmal sidhaikkalaa thaar
English couplet:
But breathe upon them, and they surely die,
Who fail to tame the pride of angry enemy.
Explanation: Those who do not destroy the pride of those who hate (them) will certainly not exist even to breathe.