Thirukkural 322 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பகுத்துண்டு பல்லுயிர் ஓம்புதல் நூலோர்
தொகுத்தவற்றுள் எல்லாந் தலை.
Transliteration
Pakuththuntu Palluyir Ompudhal Noolor
Thokuththavatrul Ellaan Thalai
Modern English
“The greatest virtue is to share what you have and help many living beings continue safely.”
Modern Interpretation
The greatest virtue is to share what you have and help many living beings continue safely. Food and resources become truly meaningful when they support more than one person. For example, sharing a meal and helping protect an injured animal both turn what you have into care for life.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The greatest virtue is to share what you have and help many living beings continue safely.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Share the food and serve all lives This is the law of all the laws
G.U. Pope Translation
Let those that need partake your meal; guard every-thing that lives;This the chief and sum of lore that hoarded wisdom gives
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The chief of all (the virtues) which authors have summed up, is the partaking of food that has been shared with others, and the preservation of the mainfold life of other creatures
Tamil commentary
இருப்பதைப் பகிர்ந்து உண்டு, பல உயிர்களையும் பாதுகாப்பது, நூல் எழுதியவர்கள் தொகுத்த அறங்களுள் எல்லாம் முதன்மையான அறமாகும்.
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