Non-Killing
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nilaiyañci nīttāru ḷellāṅ kolaiyañcik / kollāmai cūḻvāṉ ṟalai.
“Of those who 'being' dread, and all renounce, the chief are they, / Who dreading crime of slaughter, study nought to slay.”
“Among all that have renounced this life with its fears of ill, the chiefest is he that reverenceth all life for fear of killing any.”
Among all who renounced household life from fear of continued birth, foremost is the one who fears the wrong of killing and keeps non-killing in mind.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நிலை அஞ்சி நீத்தாருள் எல்லாம்= பிறப்புநின்ற நிலையை அஞ்சிப் பிறவாமைப்பொருட்டு மனைவாழ்க்கையைத் துறந்தார் எல்லாருள்ளும்; கொலை அஞ்சிக் கொல்லாமை சூழ்வான் தலை= கொலைப்பாவத்தை அஞ்சிக் கொல்லாமையாகிய அறத்தை மறவாதவன் உயர்ந்தவன்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Among all who have renounced worldly life out of fear of repeated rebirth, foremost is the sage who, dreading the sin of slaughter, steadfastly guards non-killing.