Kural Chronicles

KURAL 106

ARATHUPAAL

ILLARAVIYAL

ADHIKAARAM 11: SEYNANDRI ARITHAL – GRATITUDE

மறவற்க மாசற்றார் கேண்மை துறவற்க
துன்பத்துள் துப்பாயார் நட்பு.

Maravarka maasatraar kaenmai thuravarka

Thunbathul thupaayaar natpu

Do not forget the relationship of pure and faultless souls. At the same time, never forsake the friendship of those who stood by you in difficult times, pure or impure may they be.

Maravarka: do not forget;  Maasatraar: maasu atraar – having no faults ;  Kaenmai:  relationship or friendship;  Thunbam: trouble or sorrow;  Natpu: friendship

Seynandri Arithal is understanding the value of help given to us by someone; appreciating the timely help and remembering it with gratitude. In Kural 106, what does Valluvar say about gratitude?

It is obviously important to cultivate friendships with good people; wise people; noble people. Never forget their friendship. The one circumstance where good or evil, you still continue a friendship is when they have stood by you in tough times. The person who helped you may not be a good person even, may not be on the same wavelength; but, they have helped you. So remember that help with gratitude.

A prime example of this is Karnan from the Mahabharatha. Prince Duryodhana helped him and supported him and made him an equal. That one reason was enough for Karnan to stand by that friendship forever and finally give his life for that friendship.  Where Karnan slipped up was that he did not do what Valluvar says in the first half of this Kural – cultivate the friendship of noble people.