Non-Killing
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taṉṉuyir nīppiṉuñ ceyyaṟka tāṉpiṟi / tiṉṉuyir nīkkum viṉai
“Though thine own life for that spared life the price must pay, / Take not from aught that lives gift of sweet life away.”
“Take not away from any living thing the life that is sweet unto all, even if it be to save thine own.”
Even if one's own life would depart, one must not perform the act that removes another being's precious life.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தன் உயிர் நீப்பினும்= அது செய்யாவழித் தன் உயிர் உடம்பின் நீங்கிப் போம் ஆயினும்; தான் பிறிது இன்னுயிர் நீக்கும் வினை செய்யற்க= தான் பிறிதோர் இன்னுயிரை அதன் உடம்பின் நீக்கும் தொழிலைச் செய்யற்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even if one's own life should perish for refusing to do so, let no one ever commit the act that violently strips another being of its sweet life.