Thirukkural · பொருட்பால் · நட்பு

Thirukkural 786

Kural 786

முகநக நட்பது நட்பன்று நெஞ்சத்து
அகநக நட்பது நட்பு.

Mukanaka Natpadhu Natpandru Nenjaththu
Akanaka Natpadhu Natpu

Not the face's smile of welcome shows the friend sincere, But the heart's rejoicing gladness when the friend is near

Meaning

The love that dwells (merely in the smiles of the face is not friendship; (but) that which dwells deep in the smiles of the heart is true friendship.

Plain English meaning from the 19th-century prose translation by W. H. Drew and John Lazarus. The verse above is G. U. Pope's translation (1886).

Other kurals in நட்பு

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