Not Backbiting
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Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
pakaccollik kēḷirp pirippar nakaccolli / naṭpāṭal tēṟṟā tavar
Those who don't know how to speak warmly and win friends will, by divisive talk, split apart even close companions.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“With friendly art who know not pleasant words to say, / Speak words that sever hearts, and drive choice friends away.”
“They that know not to speak sweet and to make friendships create discord and separate men who were friends.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பகச் சொல்லிக் கேளிர்ப் பிரிப்பர் = தம்மை விட்டு நீங்கும் ஆற்றால் புறங்கூறித் தம் கேளிரையும் பிரியப் பண்ணுவர்; நகச் சொல்லி நட்பாடல் தேற்றாதவர் = கூடி மகிழுமாறு இனிய சொற்களைச் சொல்லி அயலாரோடு நட்பாடலை அறியாதார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who do not know how to speak warmly and make friends end up, by their divisive talk, even driving away the close companions they had. The backbiter doesn't just fail to make friends; he loses the ones he has.