Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Friendship (நட்பியல்) — Friendship (நட்பு)

Kural 781:
செயற்கரிய யாவுள நட்பின் அதுபோல்
வினைக்கரிய யாவுள காப்பு.
seyaRkariya yaavuLa natpin adhupoal
vinaikkariya yaavuLa kaappu
English couplet:
What so hard for men to gain as friendship true?
What so sure defence 'gainst all that foe can do?.
Explanation: What things are there so difficult to acquire as friendship ? What guards are there so difficult to break through by the efforts (of one's foes) ? .

Kural 782:
நிறைநீர நீரவர் கேண்மை பிறைமதிப்
பின்னீர பேதையார் நட்பு.
niRainheera neeravar kaeNmai piRaimadhip
pinneera paedhaiyaar natpu
English couplet:
Friendship with men fulfilled of good Waxes like the crescent moon;
Friendship with men of foolish mood, Like the full orb, waneth soon.
Explanation: The friendship of the wise waxes like the new moon; (but) that of fools wanes like the full moon.

Kural 783:
நவில்தொறும் நூல்நயம் போலும் பயில்தொறும்
பண்புடை யாளர் தொடர்பு.
navildhoRum noolnhayam poalum payildhoRum
paNpudai yaaLar thodarpu
English couplet:
Learned scroll the more you ponder, Sweeter grows the mental food;
So the heart by use grows fonder, Bound in friendship with the good.
Explanation: Like learning, the friendship of the noble, the more it is cultivated, the more delightful does it become.

Kural 784:
நகுதற் பொருட்டன்று நட்டல் மிகுதிக்கண்
மேற்செனறு இடித்தற் பொருட்டு.
nakudhaR poruttandru nattal mikudhikkaN
maeRsenaru itiththaR poruttu
English couplet:
Nor for laughter only friendship all the pleasant day,
But for strokes of sharp reproving, when from right you stray.
Explanation: Friendship is to be practised not for the purpose of laughing but for that of being beforehand in giving one another sharp rebukes in case of transgression.

Kural 785:
புணர்ச்சி பழகுதல் வேண்டா உணர்ச்சிதான்
நட்பாங் கிழமை தரும்.
puNarchchi pazhakudhal vaeNdaa uNarchchidhaan
natpaanG kizhamai tharum
English couplet:
Not association constant, not affection's token bind;
'Tis the unison of feeling friends unites of kindred mind.
Explanation: Living together and holding frequent intercourse are not necessary (for friendship); (mutual) understanding can alone create a claim for it.

Kural 786:
முகநக நட்பது நட்பன்று நெஞ்சத்து
அகநக நட்பது நட்பு.
mukanhaka natpadhu natpandru nenjaththu
akanhaka natpadhu natpu
English couplet:
Not the face's smile of welcome shows the friend sincere,
But the heart's rejoicing gladness when the friend is near.
Explanation: The love that dwells (merely in the smiles of the face is not friendship; (but) that which dwells deep in the smiles of the heart is true friendship.

Kural 787:
அழிவி னவைநீக்கி ஆறுய்த்து அழிவின்கண்
அல்லல் உழப்பதாம் நட்பு.
azhivi navainheekki aaRuyththu azhivin-kaN
allal uzhappadhaam natpu
English couplet:
Friendship from ruin saves, in way of virtue keeps;
In troublous time, it weeps with him who weeps.
Explanation: (True) friendship turns aside from evil (ways) makes (him) walk in the (good) way, and, in case of loss if shares his sorrow (with him).

Kural 788:
உடுக்கை இழந்தவன் கைபோல ஆங்கே
இடுக்கண் களைவதாம் நட்பு.
udukkai izhandhavan kaipoala aangae
idukkaN kaLaivadhaam natpu
English couplet:
As hand of him whose vesture slips away,
Friendship at once the coming grief will stay.
Explanation: (True) friendship hastens to the rescue of the afflicted (as readily) as the hand of one whose garment is loosened (before an assembly).

Kural 789:
நட்பிற்கு வீற்றிருக்கை யாதெனின் கொட்பின்றி
ஒல்லும்வாய் ஊன்றும் நிலை.
natpiRku veetrirukkai yaadhenin kotpindri
ollumvaai oondrum nilai
English couplet:
And where is friendship's royal seat? In stable mind,
Where friend in every time of need support may find.
Explanation: Friendship may be said to be on its throne when it possesses the power of supporting one at all times and under all circumstances, (in the practice or virtue and wealth).

Kural 790:
இனையர் இவரெமக்கு இன்னம்யாம் என்று
புனையினும் புல்லென்னும் நட்பு.
inaiyar ivaremakku innamyaam endru
punaiyinum pullennum natpu
English couplet:
Mean is the friendship that men blazon forth,
'He's thus to me' and 'such to him my worth'.
Explanation: Though friends may praise one another saying, "He is so intimate with us, and we so much (with him)"; (still) such friendship will appear mean.