Kural #324
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Tamil text
நல்லாறு எனப்படுவது யாதெனின்
யாதொன்றும் கொல்லாமை சூழும் நெறி
Nallāṟu eṉappaṭuvatu yāteṉiṉ
Yātoṉṟum kollāmai cūḻum neṟi
English translation
What is called the good path? It is the way that contemplates killing nothing at all.
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Explanation
The "good path" of spiritual life is defined as one that avoids killing anything whatsoever. This includes all life forms, not just humans.
விளக்கம்
கொல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில், நல்ல வழி எதுவென்றால், எந்த உயிரையும் கொல்ல நினைக்காத வழியே ஆகும். எந்த உயிருக்கும் தீங்கு செய்யாமல் வாழும் அறமே சிறந்த நெறி. இதுவே அறத்தின் அடிப்படை.
Word meanings
- நல்லாறுnallāṟugood path
- எனப்படுவதுeṉappaṭuvatuwhat is called
- யாதுyātuwhat
- எனின்eṉiṉif asked
- யாதொன்றும்yātoṉṟumanything at all
- கொல்லாமைkollāmainot killing
- சூழும்cūḻumcontemplating
- நெறிneṟipath/way
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a farmer named Arul. His fields were bountiful, but his heart was troubled. Each season, crows devoured his ripening crops. Driven to desperation, he set out to trap them, determined to protect his harvest. One morning, Arul caught a beautiful crow. As he prepared to end its life, the crow spoke in a human voice, "Spare me, farmer. My family depends on me." Arul hesitated, seeing the fear in the bird's eyes. He remembered his own family and his anger softened. He released the crow, and it flew to a nearby tree, where its mate and chicks awaited. From that day on, Arul found another way to protect his crops. He built scarecrows, which proved just as effective. The crows, though still present, no longer threatened his livelihood. Arul's heart was now lighter than before. His harvest remained plentiful, and the forest, once a source of frustration, felt like a friend.