Thirukkural 183 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
புறங்கூறிப் பொய்த்துயிர் வாழ்தலின் சாதல்
அறங்கூற்றும் ஆக்கத் தரும்.
Transliteration
Purangoorip Poiththuyir Vaazhdhalin Saadhal
Arangootrum Aakkath Tharum
Modern English
“Living a life built on fake smiles and behind-the-back gossip corrodes something important about who you are, in a way that's genuinely costly, even if no one calls you out on it.”
Modern Interpretation
Living a life built on fake smiles and behind-the-back gossip corrodes something important about who you are, in a way that's genuinely costly, even if no one calls you out on it. For example, someone who keeps up a friendly front with people they constantly badmouth in private ends up losing their own sense of integrity, whether or not anyone notices.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Living a life built on fake smiles and behind-the-back gossip corrodes something important about who you are, in a way that's genuinely costly, even if no one calls you out on it.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Virtue thinks it better to die, Than live to backbite and to lie
G.U. Pope Translation
'Tis greater gain of virtuous good for man to die,Than live to slander absent friend, and falsely praise when nigh
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Death rather than life will confer upon the deceitful backbiter the profit which (the treatises on) virtue point out
Tamil commentary
காணாதபோது ஒருவனைப் பற்றிப் புறம்பேசிக், காணும்போது பொய்யாக அவனுடன் பேசி வாழ்வதைக் காட்டிலும் இறந்து போவது அற நூல்கள் கூறும் உயர்வைத் தரும்.
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