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

English Translation

“What will they not to strangers do Who bring their friends' defects to view?”

Plain-English meaning

What will those not do to strangers whose nature leads them to publish abroad the faults of their intimate friends ?

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

What will those not do to strangers whose nature leads them to publish abroad the faults of their intimate friends ?

தன்னோடு நெருக்கமானவர்களின் குற்றத்தையும் அவர் இல்லாத நேரம் பேசும் இயல்புடையவர்கள், அயலார் காரியத்தில் என்னதான் பேசமாட்டார்கள்!

Chapter 19

புறங்கூறாமை

Though a man from virtue strays, To keep from slander brings him praise

Who bite behind, and before smile Are worse than open traitors vile

Virtue thinks it better to die, Than live to backbite and to lie

Though harsh you speak in one's presence Abuse is worse in his absence

Who turns to slander makes it plain His praise of virtue is in vain

His failings will be found and shown, Who makes another's failings known

By pleasing words who make not friends Sever their hearts by hostile trends

What will they not to strangers do Who bring their friends' defects to view?

The world in mercy bears his load Who rants behind words untoward

No harm would fall to any man If each his own defect could scan