Kural #326
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Tamil text
கொல்லாமை மேற்கொண் டொழுகுவான் வாழ்நாள்மேல்
செல்லாது உயிருண்ணும் கூற்று
Kollāmai mēṟkoṇ ṭoḻukuvāṉ vāḻnāḷmēl
Cellātu uyiruṇṇum kūṟṟu
English translation
Death, the life-taker, will not approach the lifespan of one who has adopted non-killing as their way of life.
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Explanation
A beautiful poetic claim: even Yama, the god of death who consumes lives, respects those who protect life. One who practices non-violence is blessed with long life.
விளக்கம்
கொல்லாமை என்னும் அறத்தை கடைப்பிடித்து வாழ்பவரின் வாழ்நாளை எமனே நெருங்க மாட்டான். உயிர்களைக் காப்பவனுக்கு மரணமில்லை என்பது பொருள். உயிர்களிடத்தில் கருணை காட்டுவது மிக உயர்ந்த அறம் என்பதை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- கொல்லாமைkollāmainon-killing
- மேற்கொண்டுmēṟkoṇṭuhaving adopted
- ஒழுகுவான்oḻukuvāṉone who lives
- வாழ்நாள்vāḻnāḷlifespan
- மேல்mēlupon
- செல்லாதுcellātuwill not go
- உயிர்uyirlife
- உண்ணும்uṇṇumeating
- கூற்றுkūṟṟudeath/Yama
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived an old farmer named Arul. He was known throughout the land for his gentle heart. Arul never harmed a living creature. He shared his harvest with birds and squirrels, and his fields flourished. One day, a fearsome tiger, driven by hunger, stalked into the village. Panic erupted. Villagers scattered, fearing for their lives. The tiger, roaring, approached Arul, who stood calmly in his field. Instead of fear, Arul offered the tiger fresh water and a portion of his harvest. The tiger, surprised by this kindness, hesitated. It saw the abundance of life surrounding Arul, the thriving crops, and the peaceful animals. It lowered its head, ate the offered food, and then turned back into the forest, leaving the villagers unharmed. Arul lived many more years, his life untouched by sickness or strife, while others who lived a life of violence met untimely ends.