Tirukkural Chapter 19 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 19 - புறங்கூறாமை
CHAPTER 19 - BACKBITE
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19/04. கண்நின்று கண்அறச் சொல்லினும் சொல்லற்க
முன்இன்று பின்நோக்காச் சொல்.

19/04. Kannindru kannarrach chollinum chollarrkka
Munindru pinnokkaach chol.

19/04. Even one speaks ill of other man before his eyes,
Let one not talk bad of that man when he is absent.
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Disciple: Can one talk ill of a person in front of him?

Guru: It is better one talks ill of a man
Just in front of his eyes than
Speak badly about that man
Who is not available then.

If one talks ill in front of his eyes
It'll give the victim a better chance
To counter the charges brought,
Which are factually correct or not.

On the other hand
If he talks behind
Then the troubles come
By falling into sinful blame.
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19/05, அறம்சொல்லும் நெஞ்சத்தான் அன்மை புறம்சொல்லும்
புன்மையால் காணப் படும்.

19/05. Arramchollum nenchaththaan anmai purramchollum
Punmaiyaal kaanap padum.

19/05. When a person talks of virtue, he doesn't say it from his heart
As this can be known from his habit of backbiting.
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Disciple: How does one know whether a person
Talks from his lips or from his heart?

Guru: If one is a habitual backbiter
If he talks of virtue, it's better,
His words aren't given
Much of importance then.

He knows not what he talks
As words come from his lips
And not from his heart,
That speaks with due respect.

As face is the index of one's mind
One can very easily find
From the backbiter's face
If he talks from his heart or lips.
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19/06. பிறன்பழி கூறுவான் தன்பழி யுள்ளும்
திறன்தெரிந்து கூறப் படும்.

19/06. Pirranpazhi koorruvaan thanpazhi ullum
Thirantherindhu koorrap padum.

19/06. If a man reveals openly other person's faults
That man will be blamed by someone for his worst faults.
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Disciple: 'It is like, if a cat chases a rat
A dog will chase that cat.'

Guru: 'To err is human.
To forgive is divine.'
There's no point for us
In counting mistakes.

One says, 'A thorn pricked me.'
That thorn didn't come,
But he stepped over it,
That pricked his feet.

A tendency always there is
To shift the blame on others,
Even though one is at fault
That he won't accept.

One can make suggestions
Not force on others his ideas,
Or pick up others' faults
When he's not free from faults.
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