Thirukkural 325 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நிலைஅஞ்சி நீத்தாருள் எல்லாம் கொலைஅஞ்சிக்
கொல்லாமை சூழ்வான் தலை.
Transliteration
Nilaianji Neeththaarul Ellaam Kolaianjik
Kollaamai Soozhvaan Thalai
Modern English
“Among those who give up worldly attachments, the highest is the person who is especially careful never to destroy life.”
Modern Interpretation
Among those who give up worldly attachments, the highest is the person who is especially careful never to destroy life. Renunciation is shown not only by leaving possessions behind but also by protecting living beings. For example, someone who chooses patience over violent revenge demonstrates this deeper discipline.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Among those who give up worldly attachments, the highest is the person who is especially careful never to destroy life.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Of saints who renounce birth-fearing The head is he who dreads killing
G.U. Pope Translation
Of those who 'being' dread, and all renounce, the chief are they,Who dreading crime of slaughter, study nought to slay
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Of all those who, fearing the permanence of earthly births, have abandoned desire, he is the chief who, fearing (the guilt of) murder, considers how he may avoid the destruction of life
Tamil commentary
வாழ்க்கை நிலைக்கு அஞ்சி மனத் துறவு கொண்டவருள் எல்லாம் கொலை செய்வதால் வரும் பாவத்திற்கு அஞ்சி வாழ்பவன் உயர்ந்தவன் ஆவான்.
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