Thirukkural 328 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நன்றாகும் ஆக்கம் பெரிதெனினும் சான்றோர்க்குக்
கொன்றாகும் ஆக்கங் கடை.
Transliteration
Nandraakum Aakkam Peridheninum Saandrorkkuk
Kondraakum Aakkang Katai
Modern English
“Even a great benefit gained by killing is considered dishonorable by the wise.”
Modern Interpretation
Even a great benefit gained by killing is considered dishonorable by the wise. A result cannot become truly good when it depends on destroying life. For example, a profitable plan that succeeds by treating living beings as disposable is not something to admire.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
Even a great benefit gained by killing is considered dishonorable by the wise.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The gain of slaughter is a vice Though deemed good in sacrifice
G.U. Pope Translation
Though great the gain of good should seem, the wiseWill any gain by staughter won despise
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The advantage which might flow from destroying life in sacrifice, is dishonourable to the wise (who renounced the world), even although it should be said to be productive of great good
Tamil commentary
வேள்விகளில் கொலை செய்வதால் நன்மை வரும், செல்வம் பெருகும் என்றாலும், பிற உயிரைக் கொல்வதால் வரும் செல்வத்தைச் சான்றோர் இழிவானதாகவே எண்ணுவர்.
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