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Thirukkural-On Virtue-Avoidance Of Killing-Kural 328

Thirukkural, Kural 328
Nanraakum aakkam periteninum saanrorkkuk Konraakum aakkam kadai

Even if great benefits are likely to flow from sacrificial killing,The men of real nobility and virtue will prefer non-killing.

This is Valluvar's way of emphasizing that non-killing as a virtue, is superior to any that can be acquired by a sacrifice involving killing. Parimelalagar's interpretation of this Kural introduces a discrimination between the householder and ascetic in the context of the virtue of non-killing, which is unwarranted. It is equally important and practicable for both. This then is also the justification for our recent laws prohibiting sacrificial killing of animals and birds.

This fact is also elegantly enshrined in the simple words of Sirupanchamoolam as follows:

Nangunarndhaar yenperinum kolaar iyaindhu

(Sirupanjamoolam-43)

Story first published: Monday, December 28, 2009, 12:28 [IST]
Read more about: thirukural