Thirukkural 188 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
துன்னியார் குற்றமும் தூற்றும் மரபினார்
என்னைகொல் ஏதிலார் மாட்டு.
Transliteration
Thunniyaar Kutramum Thootrum Marapinaar
Ennaikol Edhilaar Maattu
Modern English
“If someone is willing to badmouth even their closest friends the moment they're out of earshot, imagine what they're willing to say about people they barely know.”
Modern Interpretation
If someone is willing to badmouth even their closest friends the moment they're out of earshot, imagine what they're willing to say about people they barely know. Their loyalty clearly doesn't run very deep. For example, noticing a friend gossip cruelly about another close friend is a good clue about what they might be saying about you when you're not around.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
If someone is willing to badmouth even their closest friends the moment they're out of earshot, imagine what they're willing to say about people they barely know.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
What will they not to strangers do Who bring their friends' defects to view?
G.U. Pope Translation
Whose nature bids them faults of closest friends proclaimWhat mercy will they show to other men's good name
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
What will those not do to strangers whose nature leads them to publish abroad the faults of their intimate friends ?
Tamil commentary
தன்னோடு நெருக்கமானவர்களின் குற்றத்தையும் அவர் இல்லாத நேரம் பேசும் இயல்புடையவர்கள், அயலார் காரியத்தில் என்னதான் பேசமாட்டார்கள்!
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