Thirukkural 181 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அறங்கூறான் அல்ல செயினும் ஒருவன்
புறங்கூறான் என்றல் இனிது.
Transliteration
Arangooraan Alla Seyinum Oruvan
Purangooraan Endral Inidhu
Modern English
“Someone might not live a particularly virtuous life, but if they at least don't talk badly about people behind their backs, that's still something genuinely good about them.”
Modern Interpretation
Someone might not live a particularly virtuous life, but if they at least don't talk badly about people behind their backs, that's still something genuinely good about them. Not gossiping is its own quiet virtue. For example, a classmate who never joins in when others start mocking someone who's not around deserves credit for that, even if they're far from perfect otherwise.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Someone might not live a particularly virtuous life, but if they at least don't talk badly about people behind their backs, that's still something genuinely good about them.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Though a man from virtue strays, To keep from slander brings him praise
G.U. Pope Translation
Though virtuous words his lips speak not, and all his deeds are illIf neighbour he defame not, there's good within him still
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Though one do not even speak of virtue and live in sin, it will be well if it be said of him "he does not backbite."
Tamil commentary
ஒருவன் அறத்தைச் சொல்லாமல் பாவமே செய்தாலும், அடுத்தவரைப் பற்றிப் புறம் பேசமாட்டான் என்றால் அதுவே அவனுக்கு நல்லது
Chapter 19
More from Not Backbiting
புறங்கூறாமை
Though a man from virtue strays, To keep from slander brings him praise
Kural 182Who bite behind, and before smile Are worse than open traitors vile
Kural 183Virtue thinks it better to die, Than live to backbite and to lie
Kural 184Though harsh you speak in one's presence Abuse is worse in his absence
Kural 185Who turns to slander makes it plain His praise of virtue is in vain
Kural 186His failings will be found and shown, Who makes another's failings known
Kural 187By pleasing words who make not friends Sever their hearts by hostile trends
Kural 188What will they not to strangers do Who bring their friends' defects to view?
Kural 189The world in mercy bears his load Who rants behind words untoward
Kural 190No harm would fall to any man If each his own defect could scan