Thirukkural – 784
To befriend isn’t to just laugh merrily; it’s to censure
in advance when one strays from virtue.
நகுதற்பொருட்டு அன்று, நட்டல்; மிகுதிக்கண்
மேற்சென்று இடித்தற்பொருட்டு.
Friendship isn’t meant only for laughing heartily and being pleasant. It is meant to warn in advance and admonish a person when he strays from the righteous path.
நகுதல் – to laugh
நட்டல் – நட்பு கொள்ளுதல் – to befriend
மிகுதி – excess (crossing the line of propriety)
மேற்சென்று – before something happens
இடித்தல் – இடித்து உரைத்தல் – admonish / censure
Old Tamil Poetry 
Very nice. Perhaps ‘mikuti’ also indicates ‘lack of moderation’, a rather traditional Indian (seen often in Sanskrit litearture) and Buddhist notion. A translator renders this as ‘transgression’. I like ‘impropriety’ better.
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I meant ‘a notion seen often in traditional Sanskrit and Buddhist literature’.
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‘Impropriety’ is a good choice. I should have thought of that.
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