Thirukkural · அறத்துப்பால் · கொல்லாமை

Thirukkural 323

Chapter 33: கொல்லாமை (Not killing) · Virtue

Kural 323

ஒன்றாக நல்லது கொல்லாமை மற்றதன்
பின்சாரப் பொய்யாமை நன்று.

Ondraaka Nalladhu Kollaamai Matradhan
Pinsaarap Poiyaamai Nandru

Alone, first of goods things, is 'not to slay'; The second is, no untrue word to say

Meaning

Not to destroy life is an incomparably (great) good next to it in goodness ranks freedom from falsehood.

Plain English meaning from the 19th-century prose translation by W. H. Drew and John Lazarus. The verse above is G. U. Pope's translation (1886).

Other kurals in கொல்லாமை

How Thirukkural is asked in TNPSC exams

Find your weak TNPSC units before the exam does

Take a free TNPSC assessment on PrepMatic. It shows where you stand across General Tamil, General Studies and Aptitude, then builds a day-by-day study plan and mock tests focused on your weak subjects.

Start free assessment →Free forever plan · No credit card · 2-minute setup