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Kural 317

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eṉaittāṉu meññāṉṟum yārkku maṉattāṉā / māṇācey yāmai talai

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“To work no wilful woe, in any wise, through all the days, / To any living soul, is virtue's highest praise.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“It is a great thing it thou injure not knowingly any man, at any time, and in any degree.”

Modern readingAI draft

The foremost virtue is never knowingly to cause even the smallest pain to anyone, at any time.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

மனத்தான் ஆம் மாணா= மனத்தோடு உளவாகின்ற இன்னாத செயல்களை; எஞ்ஞான்றும் யார்க்கும் எனைத்தானும் செய்யாமை தலை= எக்காலத்தும் யாவர்க்கும் சிறிதாயினும் செய்யாமை தலையாய அறம்.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Never to harbor in mind the intention to do even the smallest injury to any person, at any time, is the highest peak of virtue.