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Tirukural - Chapter 32


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Part I: On Virtue

Section I: Prologue

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Chapter 32: Avoidance of Injuring Others


Verse 312
Above a man strikes a swami with a club, causing him injury. Later the swami offers a garland, in a gesture of profound forgiveness.


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Verse 311

Even if injuring others would bring princely riches,
the pure in heart would still avoid it.

Verse 312

It is the principle of the pure in heart never to injure others,
even when they themselves have been hatefully injured.

Verse 313

Harming others, even enemies who harmed you unprovoked,
surely brings incessant sorrow.

Verse 314

If you return kindness for injuries received and forget both,
Those who harmed you will be punished by their own shame.

Verse 315

What good is a man's knowledge unless it prompts him
to prevent the pain of others as if it were his own pain?

Verse 316

Actions that are known to harm oneself
should never be inflicted upon others.

Verse 317

The highest principle is this: never knowingly
harm anyone at any time in any way.

Verse 318

Why does he who knows what injury to his own life is like
inflict injury upon other living human beings?

Verse 319

If a man visits sorrow on another in the morning,
sorrow will visit him unbidden in the afternoon.

Verse 320

All suffering recoils on the wrongdoer himself. Thus, those
desiring not to suffer refrain from causing others pain.

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