Thirukkural 329 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கொலைவினைய ராகிய மாக்கள் புலைவினையர்
புன்மை தெரிவா ரகத்து.
Transliteration
Kolaivinaiya Raakiya Maakkal Pulaivinaiyar
Punmai Therivaa Rakaththu
Modern English
“The verse says that people who make a practice of killing are judged as base by those who understand the cruelty of that work.”
Modern Interpretation
The verse says that people who make a practice of killing are judged as base by those who understand the cruelty of that work. It asks us to measure a livelihood by the harm it causes, not only by the money it earns. For example, refusing to praise violence just because it is profitable keeps compassion in view.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The verse says that people who make a practice of killing are judged as base by those who understand the cruelty of that work.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Those who live by slaying are Eaters of carrion bizarre!
G.U. Pope Translation
Whose trade is 'killing', always vile they show,To minds of them who what is vileness know
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
To minds of them who what is vileness know
Tamil commentary
கொலை செய்வதைத் தொழிலாகக் கொண்டு வாழும் மக்கள், அத்தொழிலின் தீமையை அறியாதவர் என்றாலும், அறிந்த பெரியோர் மனத்துள் அவர்கள் கீழான செயல் செய்பவராய் எண்ணப்படுவார்.
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