Not Backbiting
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puṟaṅkūṟip poyttuyir vāḻtaliṉ sātal / aṟaṅkūṟum ākkam tarum
The verse declares death better than a life sustained by backbiting and false smiles—a severe ancient denunciation of the conduct, not advice to die; life remains precious and the behaviour can be changed.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'Tis greater gain of virtuous good for man to die, / Than live to slander absent friend, and falsely praise when nigh.”
“It is worthier to die at once than live by lying and slander: for such a death bringeth with it the fruits of righteousness.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
புறங்கூறிப் பொய்த்து உயிர்வாழ்தலின் = பிறனைக் காணாதவழி இகழ்ந்துரைத்துக் கண்டவழி அவற்கு இனியனாகப் பொய்த்து ஒருவன் உயிர்வாழ்தலின்; சாதல் அறம் கூறும் ஆக்கம் தரும் = அது செய்யாது சாதல் அவனுக்கு அறநூல்கள் சொல்லும் ஆக்கத்தைக் கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
It is better to die at once than to live by backbiting others and smiling falsely to their faces; such a death even earns the merit the scriptures promise. A life of two-faced slander is worth less than no life at all.