Thirukkural 324 in English

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

Tamil original

நல்லாறு எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
கொல்லாமை சூழும் நெறி.

Transliteration

Nallaaru Enappatuvadhu Yaadhenin Yaadhondrum
Kollaamai Soozhum Neri

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

Good path is that which considers how it may avoid killing any creature

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

You ask, What is the good and perfect way?'Tis path of him who studies nought to slay

Plain-English Meaning

Good path is that which considers how it may avoid killing any creature

நல்ல வழி எது என்றால், எந்த உயிரையும் கொலை செய்யாமல் அறம் காக்கும் வழிதான்.

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