Non-Killing
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naṉṟāku mākkam periteṉiṉuñ cāṉṟōrkkuk / koṉṟāku mākkaṅ kaṭai
“Though great the gain of good should seem, the wise / Will any gain by staughter won despise.”
“They may say, Sacrifices gain for a man many blessings: but to the pure in heart the blessings that are earned by killing are an abomination.”
Even if the gain said to be good is great, gain that comes through killing is base to the morally mature.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நன்று ஆகும் ஆக்கம் பெரிது எனினும்= தேவர் பொருட்டு வேள்விக்கட் கொன்றால் இன்பமிகும் செல்வம் பெரிதாம் என்று இல்வாழ்வார்க்குக் கூறப்பட்டதாயினும்; சான்றோர்க்குக் கொன்று ஆகும் ஆக்கம் கடை= துறவான் அமைந்தார்க்கு ஓருயிரைக் கொல்லவருஞ் செல்வம் கடை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even if taking life is said to yield immense gain and heavenly prosperity, the truly wise reject any advantage achieved through slaughter as utterly base.