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
Modern English
“One should not take another person's life even to save one's own.”
Modern Interpretation
One should not take another person's life even to save one's own. The verse places another life's value above desperate self-interest. For example, refusing to answer danger with deliberate violence can be the hardest and most principled choice a person makes.
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Modern Plain English
One should not take another person's life even to save one's own.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Let no one do that which would destroy the life of another, although he should by so doing, lose his own life
Tamil commentary
தன் உயிரையே இழக்க நேர்ந்தாலும், பிற இன்னுயிரை அதன் உடம்பிலிருந்து போக்கும் செயலைச் செய்யவேண்டா.
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