Thirukkural 326 in English

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

Tamil original

கொல்லாமை மேற்கொண் டொழுகுவான் வாழ்நாள்மேல்
செல்லாது உயிருண்ணுங் கூற்று.

Transliteration

Kollaamai Merkon Tozhukuvaan Vaazhnaalmel
Sellaadhu Uyirunnung Kootru

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

Yama, the destroyer of life, will not attack the life of him, who acts under the determination of never destroying life

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Ev'n death that life devours, their happy days shall spare,Who law, 'Thou shall not kill', uphold with reverent care

Plain-English Meaning

Yama, the destroyer of life, will not attack the life of him, who acts under the determination of never destroying life

கொலை செய்யாமல் வாழ்வதைக் குறிக்கோளாகக் கொண்டு வாழ்பவனின் வாழ்நாளின்மேல் உயிர் உண்ணும் கூற்று குறுக்கிடாது.

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