Thirukkural 318 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தன்னுயிர்ககு ஏன்னாமை தானறிவான் என்கொலோ
மன்னுயிர்க்கு இன்னா செயல்.
Transliteration
Thannuyirkaku Ennaamai Thaanarivaan Enkolo
Mannuyirkku Innaa Seyal
Modern English
“If you have felt how painful a wrong can be, why would you deliberately give that same pain to another living being?”
Modern Interpretation
If you have felt how painful a wrong can be, why would you deliberately give that same pain to another living being? Personal experience should awaken compassion. For example, after being embarrassed in public, do not pass that humiliation on to a quieter classmate.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
If you have felt how painful a wrong can be, why would you deliberately give that same pain to another living being?
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
How can he injure other souls Who in his life injury feels
G.U. Pope Translation
Whose soul has felt the bitter smart of wrong, how canHe wrongs inflict on ever-living soul of man
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Why does a man inflict upon other creatures those sufferings, which he has found by experience are sufferings to himself ?
Tamil commentary
அடுத்தவர் செய்த தீமை தனக்குத் துன்பமானதை அனுபவித்து அறிந்தவன், அடுத்த உயிர்களுக்குத் தீமை செய்ய எண்ணுவது என்ன காரணத்தால்?
Chapter 32
More from Not doing Evil
இன்னா செய்யாமை
The pure by faith mean pain to none Though princely wealth by that is won
Kural 312The spotless hearts seek not revenge Though Malice does the worst in rage
Kural 313Revenging even causeless hate Bad-blood breeds and baneful heat
Kural 314Doing good-turns, put them to shame Thus chide the evil who do harm
Kural 315What does a man from wisdom gain If he pines not at other's pain?
Kural 316What you feel as pain to yourself Do it not to the other-self
Kural 317Any, anywhere injure not At any time even in thought
Kural 318How can he injure other souls Who in his life injury feels
Kural 319Harm others in the forenoon Harm seeks thee in afternoon
Kural 320No harm is done by peace-lovers For pains rebound on pain-givers