Kural #188
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Tamil text
துன்னியார் குற்றமும் தூற்றும் மரபினார்
என்னெகொல் ஏதிலார் மாட்டு
Tuṉṉiyār kuṟṟamum tūṟṟum marapiṉār
Eṉṉekol ētilār māṭṭu
English translation
What will those who spread the faults of friends do when it comes to strangers?
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Explanation
If someone betrays friends by spreading their faults, imagine what they do with strangers! Disloyalty to friends reveals a character that will betray anyone.
விளக்கம்
நெருங்கிய நண்பர்களின் குறைகளைச் சொல்லும் இயல்புடையவர்கள், அறிமுகமில்லாதவர்களைப் பற்றி என்னவெல்லாம் சொல்ல மாட்டார்கள்? புறங்கூறுதல் அறமல்ல. நண்பர்களுக்கே துரோகம் செய்பவர்கள் யாரையும் விடுவதில்லை. இது புறங்கூறாமை அதிகாரத்தில் வருகிறது.
Word meanings
- துன்னியார்tuṉṉiyārthose who are close/friends
- குற்றம்kuṟṟamfaults
- தூற்றும்tūṟṟumspreading/publicizing
- மரபினார்marapiṉārthose of such nature
- என்னெeṉṉewhat
- கொல்kol(question particle)
- ஏதிலார்ētilārstrangers
- மாட்டுmāṭṭutowards
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a weaver named Arul. He was known for his beautiful silks and, sadly, for his sharp tongue. If a friend stumbled, Arul would spread the tale with embellishments, delighting in the gossip. One day, a wealthy merchant arrived, seeking a royal commission. Arul, hoping to secure the lucrative deal, began to criticize his rivals, highlighting their flaws and shortcomings. He spoke of their clumsy hands and inferior dyes, hoping to sway the merchant. The merchant listened patiently, stroking his beard. When Arul finished, beaming with self-importance, the merchant simply replied, "If you speak so ill of your own neighbors, what assurance do I have that you won’t do the same to me?" He then turned and walked away, leaving Arul staring after him, his ambition unraveling like a badly woven thread. The commission went to a rival, and Arul was left alone, his reputation as frayed as his own unkind words.