Wisdom From Pazhamozhi Nanooru (4th Century)

These are from பழமொழி நானூறு (Four hundred Proverbs). Since most of its content is similar to Naaladiyaar (an anthology of 4-liners compiled by jain monks in the post-sangam period), it is thought to be be written in the following period, possibly around 4th Century AD. These four hundred proverbs were collated and written in verse by the poet Mundrurai Arayanar (முன்றுரை அரையனார்).

தக்காரோடு ஒன்றி, தமராய் ஒழுகினார்;
மிக்காரால்’ என்று, சிறியாரைத் தாம் தேறார்;-
கொக்கு ஆர் வள வயல் ஊர!-தினல் ஆமோ,
அக்காரம் சேர்ந்த மணல்?

“They were one with the virtuous, lived like kith and kin,
hence they’re good too”, saying so no one will befriend them (the not virtuous);

Oh man from the town where paddy fields are full of cranes,
can one eat sand mixed with sugar?

பெரிய நட்டார்க்கும் பகைவர்க்கும், சென்று,
திரிவு இன்றித் தீர்ந்தார்போல் சொல்லி, அவருள்
ஒருவரோடு ஒன்றி ஒருப்படாதாரே,
இரு தலைக் கொள்ளி என்பார்.

When a close friend and his foe have a fight, one who goes and talks to both as if he is their friend and incites them,

making sure that they don’t reconcile, is said to be a torch lit in both ends (doubly dangerous).

End

Source: oldtamilpoetry.wordpress.com

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