Tirukkural on Friendship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-YRrKzupOA&feature=youtu.be Tirukkural is an ancient Tamil treatise by the poet Valluvar which talks about different subjects. Here are four verses that describe the nature of friendship. They have been presented as a viruttham in the ragas Malayamarutham, Latangi, Begada and Shanmukhapriya. Shwetha Narasimhan plays the violin. The verses and their meaning are given below. Source: http://www.ytamizh.com/thirukuralகுறள் 781: செயற்கரிய யாவுள நட்பின் அதுபோல் வினைக்கரிய யாவுள காப்பு. 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)? குறள் 782: நிறைநீர நீரவர் கேண்மை பிறைமதிப் பின்னீர பேதையார் நட்பு. Explanation: The friendship of the wise waxes like the new moon; (but) that of fools wanes like the full moon. குறள் 783: நவில்தொறும் நூல்நயம் போலும் பயில்தொறும் பண்புடை யாளர் தொடர்பு. Explanation: Like learning, the friendship of the noble, the more it is cultivated, the more delightful does it become. குறள் 784: நகுதற் பொருட்டன்று நட்டல் மிகுதிக்கண் மேற்செனறு இடித்தற் பொருட்டு. 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.