Not Backbiting
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tuṉṉiyār kuṟṟamum tūṟṟum marapiṉār / eṉṉaikol ētilār māṭṭu
“Whose nature bids them faults of closest friends proclaim / What mercy will they show to other men's good name?”
“Those that speak abroad the transgressions of their friends, how will they spare the transgressions of their enemies?”
Those whose habit is to broadcast even an intimate friend's faults — what will they not do to a mere stranger?
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
துன்னியார் குற்றமும் தூற்றும் மரபினார் = தம்மொடு செறிந்தாரது குற்றத்தையும் அவர் புறத்துத் தூற்றும் இயல்பினை உடையார்; ஏதிலார் மாட்டு என்னை கொல் = அயலார்மாட்டுச் செய்வது யாது கொல்லோ!
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If broadcasting even a close friend's faults is someone's habit, what cruelty will they spare a mere stranger? One who betrays intimates can be trusted with no one.