Thirukkural-On Avoiding Vulgarity-Kural-460

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Nallinathi noonku thunaiyillai theeyinathin
Allal paduppadhuum il

Good associations provide the greatest of help
Bad company is productive of the worst evil.

This Kural is in the nature of final assessment of good and bad associations and their impact on a right thinking person.

In this context, I would like to quote the rendering of K Srinivasan as follows:

“No greater help than good companionship;
No greater sorrow than bad friendship"

For the second part of the statement contained in this Kural, a parallel occurs in the Bible:

“Enter not into the paths of the wicked
And go not in the way of evil men"
(Proverbs: 4, 14)