Tirukkural Chapter 19 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 19 - புறங்கூறாமை
CHAPTER 19 - BACKBITE
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19/07. பகச்சொல்லிக் கேளிர்ப் பிரிப்பர் நகச்சொல்லி
நட்பாடல் தேற்றா தவர்.

19/07. Pagachchollik kellirp piripar nagachcholli
Natpaadal therraa dhavar.

19/07. A person who doesn't know how to talk sweet words
And make friends, he will send even close relatives out on some false plea.
***
Disciple: One should talk sweet words to make friends.

Guru: Yes, It must be one's nature inborn,
To talk sweet words with anyone,
As it can't be taught how to talk
Or, how sweetly one to speak?

Voice modulation also counts
In speaking softly with others,
This requires some experience
And training from experts.

Sending close relatives out,
Is not something new of late,
Including old parents
Sent to old age homes.
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19/08. துன்னியார் குற்றமும் தூற்றும் மரபினார்
என்னைகொல் ஏதிலார் மாட்டு?

19/08. Thunniyaar kutrramum thootrum marabinaar
Ennaikol eadhilaar maattu.

19/08. A man who complaints to others about his close friend
Will he not complain about outsiders?
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Disciple: Guruji, Is it not bad to complain on everyone,
Whether it's friend or foe?

Guru: It's by a force of habit,
One makes a complaint,
And he can't sleep that night
Until he makes one at least.

Day in, day out, he finds,
Friend or foe, he minds
Not their personal feelings
But starts complaining.

They're like cunning jackal,
Targeting innocent people
For complaining, as a pastime,
On someone, every time.
***
19/09. அறன்நோக்கி ஆற்றும்கொல் வையம் புறன்நோக்கிப்[
புன்சொல் உரைப்பான் பொறை?

19/09. Arannokki aatrumkol vaaiyam purrannokkip
Punchol uraippaan porrai.

19/09. It appears the world is carrying his body load,
Without throwing him out for his complaining nature.
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Disciple: Really such people are heavy load on this earth.

Guru: Earth carries many dead bodies
And among them one more he is
Even though alive he is
He's just a walking corpse.

His habit of backbiting
In his blood it's running,
So, it's not possible
To correct such people.

A typical example is Sakuni
A backbiter helping Durhodhana
Who was against Pandavas
In the story of Mahabharata
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19/10. ஏதிலார் குற்றம்போல் தம்குற்றம் காண்கிற்பின்
தீதுண்டோ மன்னும் உயிர்க்கு?

19/10. Edhillaar kurrampol thamkurram kaanndrrpin
Theedhunndo mannum yuirkku?

19/10. Instead of seeing others' faults, if one sees his own faults
Will there be any fault among living beings.
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Disciple: Guruji, Instead of picking holes on others
Why not he counts his own faults?

Guru: If he counts his own faults,
He may find no time for others,
So, ignoring his own faults
He starts counting others.

He spares not even his wife
To complain on her life
If outside none is available,
For his day's schedule.

A habitual backbiter he is,
And if there is a prize
For habitual offenders
He'll get the first prize.
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