Non-Injuring
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eṉaittāṉu meññāṉṟum yārkku maṉattāṉā / māṇācey yāmai talai
The foremost virtue is never knowingly to cause even the smallest pain to anyone, at any time.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To work no wilful woe, in any wise, through all the days, / To any living soul, is virtue's highest praise.”
“It is a great thing it thou injure not knowingly any man, at any time, and in any degree.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மனத்தான் ஆம் மாணா= மனத்தோடு உளவாகின்ற இன்னாத செயல்களை; எஞ்ஞான்றும் யார்க்கும் எனைத்தானும் செய்யாமை தலை= எக்காலத்தும் யாவர்க்கும் சிறிதாயினும் செய்யாமை தலையாய அறம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar gives the rule maximal scope: do not knowingly cause even the least pain, at any time, to anyone. The focus is intentional harm held in the mind; necessary proportionate protection, consented care, and truthful accountability are not spiteful injury.