Old Tamil Poetry

Naaladiyaar – 247

If we befriend those who are sensitive enough
To understand our unspoken thoughts, joy will befriend us;
If we leave those who dumbly misconstrue
Even explicit words, grief too will leave us.

உணர உணரும் உணர்வுடை யாரைப்
புணரிற் புணருமாம் இன்பம் – புணரின்;
தெரியத் தெரியுந் தெரிவிலா தாரைப்
பிரியப் பிரியுமாம் நோய்.

We should be careful with our friendship. If we befriend someone, we should become friends with those who are sensitive to understand our unspoken thoughts. Then the friendship will bring us joy. On the other hand, if we befriend some one who misunderstands even things we state explicitly, it will end in grief. If we move away from such persons, grief too will move away from us.

It us impossible to translate the wordplay and rhyme in the original. So I have gone for detailed explanatory translation.

உணர – thoughts

உணர்வு – sensitive

புணர்ச்சி – join / befriend

தெரிவு – clear

தெரிவு இல்லாதார் – one who lacks clarity / dumb