Non-Injuring
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kaṟuttiṉṉā ceyta vakkaṇṇu maṟuttiṉṉā / ceyyāmai mācaṟṟār kōḷ
Even toward someone who deliberately caused pain in anger, the firm principle of the morally unblemished is not to inflict pain in return.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though malice work its worst, planning no ill return, to endure, / And work no ill, is fixed decree of men in spirit pure.”
“Even when another hath injured them in his hate, the pure in heart return not the injury: for that is their way.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கறுத்து இன்னா செய்த அக்கண்ணும்= தம்மேல் செற்றங்கொண்டு ஒருவன் இன்னாதவற்றைச் செய்தவிடத்தும்; மறுத்து இன்னா செய்யாமை மாசு அற்றார் கோள்= மீண்டு தாம் அவனுக்கு இன்னாதவற்றைச் செய்யாமையும் அவரது துணிவு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar places the principle under provocation: even when another angrily and deliberately causes pain, the pure-minded do not return pain for pain. Protective distance, reporting, and proportionate justice are not retaliatory injury.