Thirukkural 327 in English

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

Tamil original

தன்னுயிர் நீப்பினும் செய்யற்க தான்பிறிது
இன்னுயிர் நீக்கும் வினை.

Transliteration

Thannuyir Neeppinum Seyyarka Thaanpiridhu
Innuyir Neekkum Vinai

English Translation

“Kill not life that others cherish Even when your life must perish”

Plain-English meaning

Let no one do that which would destroy the life of another, although he should by so doing, lose his own life

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Kill not life that others cherish Even when your life must perish

G.U. Pope Translation

Though thine own life for that spared life the price must pay,Take not from aught that lives gift of sweet life away

Plain-English Meaning

Let no one do that which would destroy the life of another, although he should by so doing, lose his own life

தன் உயிரையே இழக்க நேர்ந்தாலும், பிற இன்னுயிரை அதன் உடம்பிலிருந்து போக்கும் செயலைச் செய்யவேண்டா.

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