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
Modern English
“The good path is the one that carefully avoids killing or harming any living creature.”
Modern Interpretation
The good path is the one that carefully avoids killing or harming any living creature. Moral living requires attention to the life around us, not just good intentions. For example, moving a small creature out of danger instead of crushing it is a simple act of that care.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The good path is the one that carefully avoids killing or harming any living creature.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Good path is that which considers how it may avoid killing any creature
Tamil commentary
நல்ல வழி எது என்றால், எந்த உயிரையும் கொலை செய்யாமல் அறம் காக்கும் வழிதான்.
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