Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,066

Date uploaded in London – 8 August 2026

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Following Translations are used:

1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933

2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD Year 2000

3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

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From now onwards all the ten Kurals are given in one part

 

PART 37 Refraining from Back-Biting புறங்கூறாமை – Against slander, 1.2.15 Not Backbiting

 

181.Behold the man who is guilty of every other evil and knows not righteousness. It were well, if it be said of him that he back-bites not— ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933

***

181.A man may speak evil and do evil, but if it is said

Of him he does not slander it is great — S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000

***

181
Though virtuous words his lips speak not, and all his deeds are ill.
If neighbour he defame not, there’s good within him still.
Though one do not even speak of virtue and live in sin, it will be well if it be said of him “he does not backbite.” –Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

***

181.Though a man from virtue strays,
To keep from slander brings him praise.         Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

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181.A man may act unrighteously, and not even make mention of virtue, but if he would refrain from slander behind others back it would be creditable to him — EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

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181. அறங்கூறான் அல்ல செயினும் ஒருவன்
புறங்கூறான் என்றல் இனிது

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182.More hideous than the heart of a sinner is the deceitful smile of a slanderer— ANM+2

***

182.To be unrighteous and do evil is bad, but to indulge in slander

Behind a false smile, is worse—– SMD

***

182
Than he who virtue scorns, and evil deeds performs, more vile,
Is he that slanders friend, then meets him with false smile.
To smile deceitfully (in another’s presence) after having reviled him to his destruction (behind his back) is a greater evil than the commission of (every other) sin and the destruction of (every) virtue. – GUP
***
182.Who bite behind, and before smile
Are worse than open traitors vile –SB

***

182.Greeting a friend with false smile, but speaking ill of him behind his back, is conduct more despicable than denouncing righteousness  and doing evil– EVS

***

182.It is sin to murder virtue and do vicious deeds;

But greater sin is to smile deceitfully and slander men– HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

***

182. அறனழீஇ அல்லவை செய்தலின் தீதே
புறனழீஇப் பொய்த்து நகை

***

183.Prefer death to a life of deceit and slander; it is the only course open unto you for the welfare of your soul- ANM+2

***

183.It is better to die in virtue than live

A life of slander, under false pretences—– SMD

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183
‘Tis greater gain of virtuous good for man to die,
Than live to slander absent friend, and falsely praise when nigh.
Death rather than life will confer upon the deceitful backbiter the profit which (the treatises on) virtue point out. – GUP
***

183.Virtue thinks it better to die,
Than live to backbite and to lie—SB

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183.Death after a virtuous life is preferrable to a life sustained by lies and slander— EVS

***
183. புறங்கூறிப் பொய்த்துயிர் வாழ்தலின் சாதல்
அறங்கூறும் ஆக்கம் தரும்

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184. Talk your bitterest to one’s face, but back-bites not; for slander is the source of all evils— ANM+2

***

184.Whatever evil is said in a man’s presence is not so reprehensible

As that which is said behind his back—– SMD

***

184
In presence though unkindly words you speak, say not
In absence words whose ill result exceeds your thought.
Though you speak without kindness before another’s face speak not in his absence words which regard not the evil subsequently resulting from it. – GUP
***

184.Though harsh you speak in one’s presence
Abuse is worse in his absence—SB

***

184.You may utter harsh words in one’s presence; but do not slander in one’s absence— EVS

***
184. கண்நின்று கண்ணறச் சொல்லினும் சொல்லற்க
முன்இன்று பின்நோக்காச் சொல்

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185.Backbiting betrays the littleness of a sweet- tongued slanderer— ANM+2

***

185.An insincere heart, that rants virtue, will be exposed

In no time, by its indulgence in slander–– SMD

***

185
The slanderous meanness that an absent friend defames,
‘This man in words owns virtue, not in heart,’ proclaims.
The emptiness of that man’s mind who (merely) praises virtue will be seen from the meanness of reviling another behind his back.
– GUP

***
185.Who turns to slander makes it plain
His praise of virtue is in vain—SB

***

185. The insincerity of one who extols virtue only in word is revealed by one’s meanness of slandering others— EVS

***

185.The emptiness of that man’s heart, who Virtue prates,

Is shown by his foul slander, made behind another’s back– HAP

***

185. அறஞ்சொல்லும் நெஞ்சத்தான் அன்மை புறஞ்சொல்லும்
புன்மையாற் காணப் படும்

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186.Beware of slandering less the worst of your faults should be exposed to the scorn of the world— ANM+2

***

186.It is well for the slanderer, before he dwells on other’s faults

To realise his own select sins too, provide matter for slander- – SMD

***

186
Who on his neighbours’ sins delights to dwell,
The story of his sins, culled out with care, the world will tell.
The character of the faults of that man who publishes abroad the faults of others will be sought out and published. – GUP

***
186.His failings will be found and shown,
Who makes another’s failings known—SB

***

186.The man who slanders another  at his back is liable to the exposure of the worst of his misdeeds – EVS

***
186. பிறன்பழி கூறுவான் தன்பழி யுள்ளும்
திறன்தெரிந்து கூறப் படும்

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187.Behold the vile slanderer who sows the seeds of discord among men; he knows not the sweet joys of friendship— ANM+2

***

187.Those who cannot foster friendships with a smiling word

Will slander away even kinsmen to separation—– SMD

***

187
With friendly art who know not pleasant words to say,
Speak words that sever hearts, and drive choice friends away.
Those who know not to live in friendship with amusing conversation will by back-biting estrange even their relatives. – GUP

***
187.By pleasing words who make not friends
Sever their hearts by hostile trends—SB

***

187.Those who know not how to win friends with pleasant words will, through slander, drive away near and dear ones— EVS

***

187. பகச்சொல்லிக் கேளிர்ப் பிரிப்பர் நகச்சொல்லி
நட்பாடல் தேற்றா தவர்

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188.Will a slanderer that proclaims to the world the faults of his kith and kin ever spare the enemy? ANM+2

***

188. The tribe that broadcasts the faults of their near and dear ones

Will surely not hesitate to slander strangers—– SMD

***

188
Whose nature bids them faults of closest friends proclaim
What mercy will they show to other men’s good name?
What will those not do to strangers whose nature leads them to publish abroad the faults of their intimate friends ? – GUP

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188.What will they not to strangers do
Who bring their friends’ defects to view?         –SB

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188.Those who are disposed to expose    the faults of even their kinsfolk will not refrain from slandering others— EVS

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188. துன்னியார் குற்றமும் தூற்றும் மரபினார்
என்னைகொல் ஏதிலார் மாட்டு

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189.Is it out of infinite grace that mother earth bears on her bosom the weight of a slanderer?— ANM+2

***

189.The very fact that the earth is bearing the load

Of a vile slanderer, is its greatest virtue—– SMD

***

189
‘Tis charity, I ween, that makes the earth sustain their load.
Who, neighbours’ absence watching, tales or slander tell abroad.
The world through charity supports the weight of those who reproach others observing their absence. – GUP

***
189.The world in mercy bears his load
Who rants behind words untoward         –SB

***

189.Even the Earth groans under the weight of the man who slanders others at their back— EVS

***

189.Surely for Virtue’s sake alone doth earth bear up the weight

Of men who foully slander fellow-men behind their –-HAP

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189. அறன்நோக்கி ஆற்றுங்கொல் வையம் புறன்நோக்கிப்
புன்சொல் உரைப்பான் பொறை.

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190. Do ever evils befall a heart that judges not lest it should be judged? ANM+2

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190.If people scrutinise their own faults as they do the faults of others,

#mankind will be freed of all evil–– SMD

***

190
If each his own, as neighbours’ faults would scan,
Could any evil hap to living man?
If they observed their own faults as they observe the faults of others, would any evil happen to men ? – GUP

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190.No harm would fall to any man
If each his own defect could scan.         –SB

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190.If a man can look upon other’s faults as his own what evil can befall him— EVS

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190.If each one saw his faults, as those of foes,

Would any ill befall the human race?– HAP

***

190
190. ஏதிலார் குற்றம்போல் தங்குற்றங் காண்கிற்பின்
தீதுண்டோ மன்னும் உயிர்க்கு

To be continued……………………….

Tags- Tirukkural Encyclopaedia, Chapter 19, (Kural 181-190) ,PART 37, Refraining from Back-Bitin,g புறங்கூறாமை – Against slander, Not Backbiting