Thirukkural 320 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நோயெல்லாம் நோய்செய்தார் மேலவாம் நோய்செய்யார்
நோயின்மை வேண்டு பவர்.
Transliteration
Noyellaam Noiseydhaar Melavaam Noiseyyaar
Noyinmai Ventu Pavar
Modern English
“People who want a life free from harm should not cause harm to anyone else.”
Modern Interpretation
People who want a life free from harm should not cause harm to anyone else. Pain follows those who make pain their habit. For example, if you want a peaceful online life, do not harass people and then be surprised when conflict comes back to you.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People who want a life free from harm should not cause harm to anyone else.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
No harm is done by peace-lovers For pains rebound on pain-givers
G.U. Pope Translation
O'er every evil-doer evil broodeth still;He evil shuns who freedom seeks from ill
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Sorrow will come upon those who cause pain to others; therfore those, who desire to be free from sorrow, give no pain to others
Tamil commentary
செய்யும் தீமை எல்லாம் செய்தவர்க்கே, அதனால் நமக்குத் தீமை வேண்டா என்பவர், அடுத்தவர்க்குத் தீமை செய்யமாட்டார்.
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