குறள் 340
புக்கில் அமைந்தின்று கொல்லோ உடம்பினுள்
துச்சில் இருந்த உயிர்க்கு.
Stanza 340
Can life never have a house of its own
Cribbed ever in its cabbin?
Meaning:
It seems as if the soul, which takes shelter in a body, had not attained a home.
குறள் 312
கறுத்துஇன்னா செய்தவக் கண்ணும் மறுத்தின்னா
செய்யாமை மாசற்றார் கோள்.
Stanza 312
The code of the pure in heart
Is not to return hurt for angry hurt.
Meaning:
It is the determination of the spotless not to do evil in return even to those who have been at enmity with and done evil to them.
குறள் 313
செய்யாமல் செற்றார்க்கும் இன்னாத செய்தபின்
உய்யா விழுமந் தரும்.
Stanza 313
Vengeance even against a wanton insult
Does endless damage.
Meaning:
If a man inflicts suffering even on those who hate him, without having been injured by him; it will afterwards give him irremovable sorrow.
குறள் 321
அறவினை யாதெனின் கொல்லாமை கோறல்
பிறவினை எல்லாந் தரும்.
Stanza 321
The sum of virtue is not to kill
All sin comes from killing.
Meaning:
It is asked, what is the sum of all virtuous conduct? It is, never to destroy life. On the contrary (The destruction of life) leads to every evil dead.
குறள் 314
இன்னாசெய் தாரை ஒறுத்தல் அவர்நாண
நன்னயஞ் செய்து விடல்.
Stanza 314
Punish an evil – doer by shaming him
With a good deed, and forget.
Meaning:
The (proper) punishment of those who have done evil (to you), is to put them to shame by showing great kindness to them.
குறள் 322
பகுத்துண்டு பல்லுயிர் ஓம்புதல் நூலோர்
தொகுத்தவற்றுள் எல்லாந் தலை.
Stanza 322
The first of virtues in every creed
Is to share your food and cherish all life.
Meaning:
The chief of all (the virtues) which authors have summed up, is to eat of food that has been shared with others, and to preserve the manifold life of other creatures.
குறள் 315
அறிவினான் ஆகுவ துண்டோ பிறிதின்நோய்
தந்நோய்போல் போற்றாக் கடை.
Stanza 315
What good is that sense which does not feel and prevent
All creatures’ woes as its own?
Meaning:
What benefit has he derived from his knowledge, which does not endeavor to keep off pain from another as much as from himself?
குறள் 323
ஒன்றாக நல்லது கொல்லாமை மற்றதன்
பின்சாரப் பொய்யாமை நன்று.
Stanza:
The unique virtue is non-killing
Not lying comes next.
Meaning:
Not to destroy life, is the one (great) good: next in goodness to that is freedom from falsehood.
குறள் 316
இன்னா எனத்தான் உணர்ந்தவை துன்னாமை
வேண்டும் பிறன்கண் செயல்.
Stanza 316
Do not do to others what you know
Has hurt yourself.
Meaning:
Let not man consent to do those things to another which, he knows, will give sorrow.
குறள் 317
எனைத்தானும் எஞ்ஞான்றும் யார்க்கும் மனத்தானாம்
மாணாசெய் யாமை தலை.
Stanza:
It is best to refrain from willfully hurting
Anyone, anytime, anyway.
Meaning:
It is the chief of (all virtues) not knowing to do mean things, in the least degree, at anytime towards any person.