Not Backbiting
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aṟaṅkūṟāṉ alla seyiṉum oruvaṉ / puṟaṅkūṟāṉ eṉṟal iṉitu
“Though virtuous words his lips speak not, and all his deeds are ill, / If neighbour he defame not, there's good within him still.”
“Behold the man who doeth iniquity and who speaketh not so much as the name of righteousness: it is sweet even unto him if men say, Lo, here is one who backbiteth not.”
Even a man who does no good and commits wrongs is well spoken of, sweetly, if people can at least say, 'He does not backbite.'
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒருவன் அறம் கூறான் அல்ல செயினும் = ஒருவன் அறன் என்று சொல்லுவதும் செய்யாது பாவங்களைச் செய்யும் ஆயினும்; புறங்கூறான் என்றல் இனிது = பிறனைப் புறங்கூறான் என்று உலகத்தாரால் சொல்லப்படுதல் நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even a person who does no good and commits wrongs gains something sweet if people can at least say of him, 'He does not backbite.' Not speaking ill of others behind their backs lifts a person above his other faults.