Tirukkural Chapter 33 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 33 - கொல்லாமை
CHAPTER 33 - NOT KILLING
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33/04. நல்லாறு எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
கொல்லாமை சூழும் நெறி.

33/04. Nallaarru enappaduvadhu yaadhenin yaadhondrruum
Kollaamai soozhum nerri.

33/04. Which is a good path?
To save lives, without killing them, is a good path.
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Prabhu: Which one will lead to virtuous path?

Nataraj: Killing ends a life.
Saving extends a life.
Which one you'll choose,
When killing is of no use?

For food some advocate,
That one can kill and eat,
But this can't be debated here
As many eat meat world over.

Better we talk about non-violence,
And non-killing as in Tirukkural,
Rather jumping into the subject
Of killing for meat to eat.
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33/05. நிலையஞ்சி நீத்தாருள் எல்லாம் கொலையஞ்சிக்
கொல்லாமை சூழ்வான் தலை.

33/05. Nilayanji neethaarull ellaam kolaiyanjik
Kollaamai soozhvaan thlai.

33/05. An ascetic renounced family life, fearing for sin
Will never kill other lives.
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Prabhu: An ascetic will not kill other lives for fear of sin.

Nataraj: Why should an ascetic kill other lives
When he has renounced his family life?
He'll preach non-violence to others
Rather than killing lives.

Normally an ascetic eats fruits
And soft vegetarian meals,
He'll not even touch meat,
For fear of sin he may commit.

If he takes meat then,
He is not a renounced man,
He's a wolf in goat's coat,
And a confirmed cheat.
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33/06. கொல்லாமை மேற்கொண்டு ஒழுகுவான் வாழ்நாள்மேல்
செல்லாது உயிருண்ணும் கூற்று.

33/06. Kollaamai merrkkondu ozhuguvaan vazhnaallmael
Sellaadhu uyirunnum kootrru.

33/06. Yama, the Lord of Death, will not visit a place
Where non-violence prevails.
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Prabhu: It's a surprise to see that Lord of Death Yama
Will not visit where there is no killing.

Nataraj: For each life there is a fixed time,
If no one kills it before that time,
How Lord of Death will visit
That place before the due date?

When there're no killings,
Lives play their normal roles
Entertaining no sorrows
In their family circles.

Man slaughter is no better,
Than animals slaughter,
As both are not justified,
Where non-violence is practiced.
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