Thirukkural 186 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பிறன்பழி கூறுவான் தன்பழி யுள்ளும்
திறன்தெரிந்து கூறப் படும்.
Transliteration
Piranpazhi Kooruvaan Thanpazhi Yullum
Thirandherindhu Koorap Patum
Modern English
“Someone who makes a habit of exposing other people's flaws tends to eventually have their own flaws picked apart and exposed just as thoroughly, often by the very people they gossiped to.”
Modern Interpretation
Someone who makes a habit of exposing other people's flaws tends to eventually have their own flaws picked apart and exposed just as thoroughly, often by the very people they gossiped to. What goes around tends to come around here. For example, someone known for spreading rumours about classmates often finds themselves the subject of rumours once people stop trusting them.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Someone who makes a habit of exposing other people's flaws tends to eventually have their own flaws picked apart and exposed just as thoroughly, often by the very people they gossiped to.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
His failings will be found and shown, Who makes another's failings known
G.U. Pope Translation
Who on his neighbours' sins delights to dwell,The story of his sins, culled out with care, the world will tell
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The character of the faults of that man who publishes abroad the faults of others will be sought out and published
Tamil commentary
அடுத்தவன் குறையை அவன் இல்லாத போது எவன் கூறுகிறானோ, அவனது குறை அவன் இல்லாதபோது இன்னொருவனால் கூறப்படும்.
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