Kural #327
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Tamil text
தன்னுயிர் நீப்பினும் செய்யற்க
தான்பிறிது இன்னுயிர் நீக்கும் வினை
Taṉṉuyir nīppiṉum ceyyaṟka
Tāṉpiṟitu iṉṉuyir nīkkum viṉai
English translation
Even at the cost of one's own life, one should not do the deed of taking another sweet life.
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Explanation
Non-violence is valued even above self-preservation. This extreme statement shows how sacred all life is considered. Death is preferable to becoming a killer.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 327: கொல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில் வரும் இக்குறள், பிற உயிரை எடுக்கும் செயலைத் தவிர்க்கச் சொல்கிறது. தன் உயிர் போனாலும், இன்னொரு உயிரைப் பறிக்கக் கூடாது. எல்லா உயிர்களும் முக்கியம் என்பதே நீதி.
Word meanings
- தன்taṉone's own
- உயிர்uyirlife
- நீப்பினும்nīppiṉumeven if leaving
- செய்யற்கceyyaṟkado not do
- தான்tāṉoneself
- பிறிதுpiṟituanother
- இன்iṉsweet/dear
- நீக்கும்nīkkumremoving
- வினைviṉaideed/action
Story behind this kural
The old fisherman, Elan, found himself trapped. A cruel storm had capsized his boat, and a jagged rock impaled his leg, pinning him. He saw a small, frightened bird, also caught, its wing tangled in the wreckage. The storm raged, and the cold sea crept higher. Elan knew he was losing blood, his strength failing. He could free himself by pushing the rock, but the movement would surely crush the bird. He could not reach it to untangle the wing. Days blurred into a hazy awareness. The storm passed, and the sun shone. A passing ship spotted the wreckage and rescued Elan. His leg was badly injured, but he survived. He looked back at the remains of his boat, the empty space where the bird had been, and felt a quiet peace settle in his heart.