Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Ascetic Virtue (துறவறவியல்) — Not killing (கொல்லாமை)

Kural 321:
அறவினை யாதெனின் கொல்லாமை கோறல்
பிறவினை எல்லாந் தரும்.
aRavinai yaadhenin kollaamai koaRal
piRavinai ellaanh tharum
English couplet:
What is the work of virtue? 'Not to kill';
For 'killing' leads to every work of ill.
Explanation: Never to destroy life is the sum of all virtuous conduct. The destruction of life leads to every evil.

Kural 322:
பகுத்துண்டு பல்லுயிர் ஓம்புதல் நூலோர்
தொகுத்தவற்றுள் எல்லாந் தலை.
pakuththuNdu palluyir Ompudhal nooloar
thokuththavatruL ellaanh thalai
English couplet:
Let those that need partake your meal; guard every-thing that lives;
This the chief and sum of lore that hoarded wisdom gives.
Explanation: The chief of all (the virtues) which authors have summed up, is the partaking of food that has been shared with others, and the preservation of the mainfold life of other creatures.

Kural 323:
ஒன்றாக நல்லது கொல்லாமை மற்றதன்
பின்சாரப் பொய்யாமை நன்று.
ondraaka nalladhu kollaamai matradhan
pinsaarap poiyaamai nandru
English couplet:
Alone, first of goods things, is 'not to slay';
The second is, no untrue word to say.
Explanation: Not to destroy life is an incomparably (great) good next to it in goodness ranks freedom from falsehood.

Kural 324:
நல்லாறு எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
கொல்லாமை சூழும் நெறி.
nallaaRu enappatuvadhu yaadhenin yaadhondrum
kollaamai soozhum neRi
English couplet:
You ask, What is the good and perfect way?
'Tis path of him who studies nought to slay.
Explanation: Good path is that which considers how it may avoid killing any creature.

Kural 325:
நிலைஅஞ்சி நீத்தாருள் எல்லாம் கொலைஅஞ்சிக்
கொல்லாமை சூழ்வான் தலை.
nilaianji neeththaaruL ellaam kolaianjik
kollaamai soozhvaan thalai
English couplet:
Of those who 'being' dread, and all renounce, the chief are they,
Who dreading crime of slaughter, study nought to slay.
Explanation: Of all those who, fearing the permanence of earthly births, have abandoned desire, he is the chief who, fearing (the guilt of) murder, considers how he may avoid the destruction of life.

Kural 326:
கொல்லாமை மேற்கொண் டொழுகுவான் வாழ்நாள்மேல்
செல்லாது உயிருண்ணுங் கூற்று.
kollaamai maeRkoN dozhukuvaan vaazhnhaaLmael
sellaadhu uyiruNNunG kootru
English couplet:
Ev'n death that life devours, their happy days shall spare,
Who law, 'Thou shall not kill', uphold with reverent care.
Explanation: Yama, the destroyer of life, will not attack the life of him, who acts under the determination of never destroying life.

Kural 327:
தன்னுயிர் நீப்பினும் செய்யற்க தான்பிறிது
இன்னுயிர் நீக்கும் வினை.
thannuyir neeppinum seyyaRka thaanpiRidhu
innuyir neekkum vinai
English couplet:
Though thine own life for that spared life the price must pay,
Take not from aught that lives gift of sweet life away.
Explanation: Let no one do that which would destroy the life of another, although he should by so doing, lose his own life.

Kural 328:
நன்றாகும் ஆக்கம் பெரிதெனினும் சான்றோர்க்குக்
கொன்றாகும் ஆக்கங் கடை.
nandraakum aakkam peridheninum saandroarkkuk
kondraakum aakkanG kadai
English couplet:
Though great the gain of good should seem, the wise
Will any gain by staughter won despise.
Explanation: The advantage which might flow from destroying life in sacrifice, is dishonourable to the wise (who renounced the world), even although it should be said to be productive of great good.

Kural 329:
கொலைவினைய ராகிய மாக்கள் புலைவினையர்
புன்மை தெரிவா ரகத்து.
kolaivinaiya raakiya maakkaL pulaivinaiyar
punmai therivaa rakaththu
English couplet:
Whose trade is 'killing', always vile they show,
To minds of them who what is vileness know.
Explanation: Men who destroy life are base men, in the estimation of those who know the nature of meanness.

Kural 330:
உயிருடம்பின் நீக்கியா ரென்ப செயிருடம்பின்
செல்லாத்தீ வாழ்க்கை யவர்
uyirutampin neekkiyaa renpa seyirudambin
sellaaththee vaazhkkai yavar
English couplet:
Who lead a loathed life in bodies sorely pained,
Are men, the wise declare, by guilt of slaughter stained.
Explanation: (The wise) will say that men of diseased bodies, who live in degradation and in poverty, are those who separated the life from the body of animals (in a former birth).