Avoidance of Killing

Avoidance of Killing

Verse 321 What is virtuous conduct? It is never destroying life, For killing leads to every other sin.

Verse 322 Of all the virtues summed by ancient sages the foremost are these: To partake of food one has shared and to protect all living creatures.

Verse 323 Not killing is the first and foremost good. The virtue of not lying comes next.

Verse 324 What is the good way? It is the path that reflects on How it may avoid killing any living creature.

Verse 325 Among all who disown the world out of dismay, the foremost are They who, dismayed with death-dealing, embrace non-killing.

Verse 326 Life-devouring death will not assail the living days Of one whose code of conduct is to never kill.

Verse 327 Refrain from taking precious life from any living being, Even to save your own life.

Verse 328 By sacrifice of life some gain great wealth and good, But sagacious men scorn such gains.

Verse 329 Those whose trade is killing creatures are deemed defiled By men who know the defiling nature of being mean.

Verse 330 They say the beggar who suffers a sore ridden body and deprived life Once deprived another's body of life