Non-Killing
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oṉṟāka nallatu kollāmai maṟaṟataṉ / piṉcārap poyyāmai naṉṟu
“Alone, first of goods things, is 'not to slay'; / The second is, no untrue word to say.”
“The greatest virtue of all is non-killing: truthfulness cometh only next.”
Non-killing stands alone as the highest good; after it, truthfulness is good in the next place.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒன்றாக நல்லது கொல்லாமை= நூலோர் தொகுத்த அறங்களுள் தன்னோடு இணை ஒப்பு அது இன்றித் தானேயாக நல்லது கொல்லாமை; பொய்யாமை அதன் பின்சார நன்று= அஃது ஒழிந்தால் பொய்யாமை அதன்பின்னே நிற்க நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Non-killing stands supreme as the single greatest virtue; immediately following beside it in nobility is the virtue of truthfulness.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review