Non-Killing
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taṉṉuyir nīppiṉuñ ceyyaṟka tāṉpiṟi / tiṉṉuyir nīkkum viṉai
Even if one's own life would depart, one must not perform the act that removes another being's precious life.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though thine own life for that spared life the price must pay, / Take not from aught that lives gift of sweet life away.”
“Take not away from any living thing the life that is sweet unto all, even if it be to save thine own.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தன் உயிர் நீப்பினும்= அது செய்யாவழித் தன் உயிர் உடம்பின் நீங்கிப் போம் ஆயினும்; தான் பிறிது இன்னுயிர் நீக்கும் வினை செய்யற்க= தான் பிறிதோர் இன்னுயிரை அதன் உடம்பின் நீக்கும் தொழிலைச் செய்யற்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar reads the prohibition absolutely: even at the cost of one's own life, do not take another being's sweet life. This is not an instruction to die by suicide, refuse rescue, remain with an abuser, or abandon proportionate self-defense; modern readers must distinguish escape and least-harm protection from an intention to kill.