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
Modern English
“Among moral duties, not destroying life stands first, and honesty follows close behind.”
Modern Interpretation
Among moral duties, not destroying life stands first, and honesty follows close behind. A good life needs both compassion and truth. For example, tell the truth about a mistake and solve it without hurting the person who made it.
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Modern Plain English
Among moral duties, not destroying life stands first, and honesty follows close behind.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Not to destroy life is an incomparably (great) good next to it in goodness ranks freedom from falsehood
Tamil commentary
உயிர்களைக் கொல்லாத செயல், அறங்களுள் எல்லாம் சிறந்த தனி அறமாம். அதற்கு அடுத்துச் சிறந்த அறம் பொய்யாமை.
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