Tirukkural Chapter 46 - Couplets 1,2,3

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL அதிகாரம் 46 - சிற்றினம் சேராமை CHAPTER 46 - AVOID LOW COMPANY *** 46/01. சிற்றினம் அஞ்சும் பெருமை; சிறுமைதான் சுற்றமாச் சூழ்ந்து விடும். 46/01. Sitrrinam anjum perumai; sirumaidhaan Sutrramaagach chuzhndu vidum. 46/01. Great men will be afraid of joining low company, Who will join and circle around similar low groups. *** Balaram: High class people will never join Low class people. Hari: A high class person Will never like to join Any of the low class men Who aren't open and plain. He has more decency, Decorum and dignity, To let himself down, Before such low class men. A low class man will join His group of low class men, As a regular habit of his own, Rather than joining high class men *** 46/02. நிலத்தியல்பால் நீர்திரிந்து அற்றாகும் மாந்தர்க்கு இனத்தியல்பது ஆகும் அறிவு. 46/02. Nilaththiyalbaal neerthirindhu atrraagum maandharkku Inathiyalbadhu áagum arrive. 46/02. Water changes its color and taste to suit the ground in which it stays. Like that, people will change themselves to suit the company they join. *** Balaram: A low class man will join Only another low class man. Hari: *இனம் இனத்தோடு சேரும்.* *A class will join the same class* Birds of the same feather flock together. A good man joining a drunkard Will become another drunkard. A drunkard will not join A group of good men, But he'll join another Drunkard as his brother. Some people like chameleon Change according to person Good for good men And bad for bad men. *** 46/03. மனத்தான்ஆம் மாந்தர்க்கு உணர்ச்சி; இனத்தான்ஆம் இன்னான் எனப்படும் சொல். 46/03. Manaththaanaam mandharkku unnarchchi; inaththaanaam Innaan enappadum sol. 46/03. One will get general knowledge through one's own mind. But to say he is that kind of man, it depends upon what company he is in. *** Balaram: Intelligent one may be, but if his mind is perverted He'll even join a bad company. Hari: Good Company one must choose, Otherwise his prestige he'll lose. A good man in the company of good Will be like a crown on his head. "Tell me who your friends are? I'll tell who you are? " This proverb itself reveals, Good or bad, how one behaves? A friend in need Is a friend indeed, So, one's companion Must be an excellent person. ***