Non-Killing
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aṟaviṉai yāteṉiṟ kollāmai kōṟal / piṟaviṉai yellān tarum
“What is the work of virtue? 'Not to kill'; / For 'killing' leads to every work of ill.”
“The greatest of virtues is non-killing: killing bringeth in its train every other sin.”
If asked what the work of virtue is, it is non-killing; killing brings every other evil deed in its train.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அறவினை யாது எனின் கொல்லாமை= அறங்கள் எல்லாமாகிய செய்கை யாதுஎன்று வினவின், அஃது ஓருயிரையும் கொல்லாமையாம்; கோறல் பிறவினை எல்லாம் தரும்= அவற்றைக் கொல்லுதல் பாவச்செய்கைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் தானே தரும் ஆதலான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If asked what the essence of all virtue is, it is the steadfast practice of non-killing; for taking life opens the floodgate to every other evil deed.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review