Thirukkural 323 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

ஒன்றாக நல்லது கொல்லாமை மற்றதன்
பின்சாரப் பொய்யாமை நன்று.

Transliteration

Ondraaka Nalladhu Kollaamai Matradhan
Pinsaarap Poiyaamai Nandru

English Translation

“Not to kill is unique good The next, not to utter falsehood”

Plain-English meaning

Not to destroy life is an incomparably (great) good next to it in goodness ranks freedom from falsehood

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Not to kill is unique good The next, not to utter falsehood

G.U. Pope Translation

Alone, first of goods things, is 'not to slay';The second is, no untrue word to say

Plain-English Meaning

Not to destroy life is an incomparably (great) good next to it in goodness ranks freedom from falsehood

உயிர்களைக் கொல்லாத செயல், அறங்களுள் எல்லாம் சிறந்த தனி அறமாம். அதற்கு அடுத்துச் சிறந்த அறம் பொய்யாமை.

Chapter 33

கொல்லாமை

What is Virtue? 'Tis not to kill For killing causes every ill

Share the food and serve all lives This is the law of all the laws

Not to kill is unique good The next, not to utter falsehood

What way is good? That we can say The way away from heat to slay

Of saints who renounce birth-fearing The head is he who dreads killing

Life-eating-Death shall spare the breath Of him who no life puts to death

Kill not life that others cherish Even when your life must perish

The gain of slaughter is a vice Though deemed good in sacrifice

Those who live by slaying are Eaters of carrion bizarre!

The loathsome poor sickly and sore Are killers stained by blood before