Tirukkural Chapter 19 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 19 - புறங்கூறாமை
CHAPTER 19 - BACKBITE
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19/01. அறம்கூறான் அல்ல செயினும் ஒருவன்
புறம்கூறான் என்றல் இனிது.

19/01. Arramkoorraan alla cheyinum oruvan
Purramkoorraan endraal inidhu.

19/01. One will not even spell virtue and commit sin also,
But the world appreciates him for not backbiting anyone.
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Disciple: Backbiting is very bad.

Guru: Yes, it's very bad indeed.
Many people are ruined
As backbiting sets one
Against another one

But it has become a habit
For one to backbite,
Without doing it, one can't
Even sleep that night.

What's virtue or sin,
To know he's not so keen,
But when he doesn't backbite
This, the world appreciates
***.
19/02. அறன்அழீஇ அல்லவை செய்தலின் தீதே
புறன்அழீஇப் பொய்த்து நகை.

19/02. Arranazhee allavai seidhalin theedhe
Purranazheep poyththu nagai.

19/02. A man talking bad of one behind his back, and good before him joyfully
That man commits more than a sin by his backbiting.
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Disciple: Is it a sin for one to do backbiting?

Guru: It is worst than a sin to backbite
That spoils the affected man's interest.
What does the sinner gain?
Nothing but the other man's pain.

To talk behind one bad
And before him good
Shows double standard
Of a person, who's mad.

That man lacks courage,
To say openly at any stage,
The truth, face to face,
For that act, he lost his face.
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19/03. புறம்கூறிப் பொய்த்துயிர் வாழ்தலின் சாதல்
அறம்கூறும் ஆக்கம் தரும்.

19/03. Purramkoorrip poiththuyir vaazhdhalin saadhal
Arramkoorum aakkam tharum.

19/03. Criticizing a man absent and praising him present falsely
Better he dies to get some benefits of virtue.
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Disciple: Such double talkers should die?

Guru: It's better such a double talker die soon,
As at least he may not commit a sin,
And will be getting some gain
For any virtuous act he has done.

What a damage he has done
By this kind of sinful action
He may know it personally
But that is what he wants really.

It's a kind of sickness,
In other words madness,
For such a man to spoil others,
Just for his sadistic pleasure.
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