Chapter 33: Not killing

அறவினை யாதெனின் கொல்லாமை கோறல்
பிறவினை எல்லாந் தரும்.

Aravinai Yaadhenin Kollaamai Koral
Piravinai Ellaan Tharum

What is Virtue? 'Tis not to kill For killing causes every ill

Meaning: Never to destroy life is the sum of all virtuous conduct The destruction of life leads to every evil

பகுத்துண்டு பல்லுயிர் ஓம்புதல் நூலோர்
தொகுத்தவற்றுள் எல்லாந் தலை.

Pakuththuntu Palluyir Ompudhal Noolor
Thokuththavatrul Ellaan Thalai

Share the food and serve all lives This is the law of all the laws

Meaning: The chief of all (the virtues) which authors have summed up, is the partaking of food that has been shared with others, and the preservation of the mainfold life of other creatures

ஒன்றாக நல்லது கொல்லாமை மற்றதன்
பின்சாரப் பொய்யாமை நன்று.

Ondraaka Nalladhu Kollaamai Matradhan
Pinsaarap Poiyaamai Nandru

Not to kill is unique good The next, not to utter falsehood

Meaning: Not to destroy life is an incomparably (great) good next to it in goodness ranks freedom from falsehood

நல்லாறு எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
கொல்லாமை சூழும் நெறி.

Nallaaru Enappatuvadhu Yaadhenin Yaadhondrum
Kollaamai Soozhum Neri

What way is good? That we can say The way away from heat to slay

Meaning: Good path is that which considers how it may avoid killing any creature

நிலைஅஞ்சி நீத்தாருள் எல்லாம் கொலைஅஞ்சிக்
கொல்லாமை சூழ்வான் தலை.

Nilaianji Neeththaarul Ellaam Kolaianjik
Kollaamai Soozhvaan Thalai

Of saints who renounce birth-fearing The head is he who dreads killing

Meaning: Of all those who, fearing the permanence of earthly births, have abandoned desire, he is the chief who, fearing (the guilt of) murder, considers how he may avoid the destruction of life

கொல்லாமை மேற்கொண் டொழுகுவான் வாழ்நாள்மேல்
செல்லாது உயிருண்ணுங் கூற்று.

Kollaamai Merkon Tozhukuvaan Vaazhnaalmel
Sellaadhu Uyirunnung Kootru

Life-eating-Death shall spare the breath Of him who no life puts to death

Meaning: Yama, the destroyer of life, will not attack the life of him, who acts under the determination of never destroying life

தன்னுயிர் நீப்பினும் செய்யற்க தான்பிறிது
இன்னுயிர் நீக்கும் வினை.

Thannuyir Neeppinum Seyyarka Thaanpiridhu
Innuyir Neekkum Vinai

Kill not life that others cherish Even when your life must perish

Meaning: Let no one do that which would destroy the life of another, although he should by so doing, lose his own life

நன்றாகும் ஆக்கம் பெரிதெனினும் சான்றோர்க்குக்
கொன்றாகும் ஆக்கங் கடை.

Nandraakum Aakkam Peridheninum Saandrorkkuk
Kondraakum Aakkang Katai

The gain of slaughter is a vice Though deemed good in sacrifice

Meaning: The advantage which might flow from destroying life in sacrifice, is dishonourable to the wise (who renounced the world), even although it should be said to be productive of great good

கொலைவினைய ராகிய மாக்கள் புலைவினையர்
புன்மை தெரிவா ரகத்து.

Kolaivinaiya Raakiya Maakkal Pulaivinaiyar
Punmai Therivaa Rakaththu

Those who live by slaying are Eaters of carrion bizarre!

Meaning: To minds of them who what is vileness know

உயிருடம்பின் நீக்கியா ரென்ப செயிருடம்பின்
செல்லாத்தீ வாழ்க்கை யவர்.

Uyir Utampin Neekkiyaar Enpa
Seyir Utampin Sellaaththee Vaazhkkai

The loathsome poor sickly and sore Are killers stained by blood before

Meaning: (The wise) will say that men of diseased bodies, who live in degradation and in poverty, are those who separated the life from the body of animals (in a former birth)