Thirukkural 321 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அறவினை யாதெனின் கொல்லாமை கோறல்
பிறவினை எல்லாந் தரும்.
Transliteration
Aravinai Yaadhenin Kollaamai Koral
Piravinai Ellaan Tharum
Modern English
“Not destroying life is presented as the heart of virtuous conduct, because violence opens the way to many other wrongs.”
Modern Interpretation
Not destroying life is presented as the heart of virtuous conduct, because violence opens the way to many other wrongs. Respect for life is a foundation for every other moral choice. For example, choosing dialogue instead of revenge can stop one conflict from becoming a chain of harm.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Not destroying life is presented as the heart of virtuous conduct, because violence opens the way to many other wrongs.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
What is Virtue? 'Tis not to kill For killing causes every ill
G.U. Pope Translation
What is the work of virtue? 'Not to kill';For 'killing' leads to every work of ill
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Never to destroy life is the sum of all virtuous conduct The destruction of life leads to every evil
Tamil commentary
அறச்செயல் எது என்றால், பிற உயிர்களைக் கொலை செய்யாது இருப்பதே; கொல்வது அனைத்துப் பாவங்களையும் தரும்.
Chapter 33
More from Not killing
கொல்லாமை
What is Virtue? 'Tis not to kill For killing causes every ill
Kural 322Share the food and serve all lives This is the law of all the laws
Kural 323Not to kill is unique good The next, not to utter falsehood
Kural 324What way is good? That we can say The way away from heat to slay
Kural 325Of saints who renounce birth-fearing The head is he who dreads killing
Kural 326Life-eating-Death shall spare the breath Of him who no life puts to death
Kural 327Kill not life that others cherish Even when your life must perish
Kural 328The gain of slaughter is a vice Though deemed good in sacrifice
Kural 329Those who live by slaying are Eaters of carrion bizarre!
Kural 330The loathsome poor sickly and sore Are killers stained by blood before