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Section 1 · அறத்துப்பால் (Virtue) · Chapter 33 / 133

Non-Killing

கொல்லாமை
Kural 321

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aṟaviṉai yāteṉiṟ kollāmai kōṟal / piṟaviṉai yellān tarum

Modern readingAI draft

If asked what the work of virtue is, it is non-killing; killing brings every other evil deed in its train.

▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
G.U. Pope1886

“What is the work of virtue? 'Not to kill'; / For 'killing' leads to every work of ill.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“The greatest of virtues is non-killing: killing bringeth in its train every other sin.”

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

அறவினை யாது எனின் கொல்லாமை= அறங்கள் எல்லாமாகிய செய்கை யாதுஎன்று வினவின், அஃது ஓருயிரையும் கொல்லாமையாம்; கோறல் பிறவினை எல்லாம் தரும்= அவற்றைக் கொல்லுதல் பாவச்செய்கைகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் தானே தரும் ஆதலான்.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Parimelazhagar identifies the whole work of virtue with not killing any life, because killing generates the other sinful acts. The claim condemns intentional taking of life; it should not make victims remain in danger or equate unavoidable accidents, proportionate self-protection, or good-faith emergency treatment with deliberate killing.

This verse is in tension

Contested against Kural 550
Killing is the root of every evil — and the king should execute the cruel
கொலையே எல்லாத் தீமையின் வேர்; இருந்தாலும் கொடியவரை அரசன் கொல்ல வேண்டும்

A king putting cruel men to death is doing what a farmer does pulling weeds.

AI draft · pending scholar review