Dread of Evil Deeds
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aṟiviṉuḷ ellām talaiyeṉpa tīya / ceṟuvārkkum ceyyā viṭal
“Even to those that hate make no return of ill; / So shalt thou wisdom's highest law, 'tis said, fulfil.”
“The chiefest wisdom, they say, is to abstain from injury even to an enemy.”
To refrain from retaliating with evil even toward enemies who deliberately seek one's ruin is hailed as the supreme crown of all wisdom.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அறிவினுள் எல்லாம் தலை என்ப = தமக்கு உறுதி நாடும் அறிவுகள் எல்லாவற்றுள்ளும் தலையாய அறிவு என்று சொல்லுவர் நல்லோர்; செறுவார்க்கும் தீய செய்யா விடல் = தம்மைச் செறுவார்மாட்டும் தீவினைகளைச் செய்யாது விடுதலை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
To refrain from retaliating with evil even toward enemies who deliberately seek one's ruin is hailed as the supreme crown of all wisdom.