Primary texts on ethics
Selections from Jain and Buddhist texts, Ashoka’s edicts and the Tirukkural.
The essentials
Jain texts: The Acharanga Sutra, among the oldest Jain scriptures, teaches that all living beings love life and dislike pain, so one should not harm, kill or oppress any of them. The Tattvartha Sutra of Umasvati states that right faith, right knowledge and right conduct together are the path to liberation, and contains the maxim "parasparopagraho jivanam" — souls render service to one another.
Buddhist texts: The Dhammapada, a collection of sayings in Pali, teaches that hatred is never ended by hatred but only by non-hatred (love) — an eternal law. It stresses the mind's role: our thoughts shape our actions and their results.
Ashoka's edicts: After the Kalinga war, Ashoka expressed remorse (Rock Edict XIII) and promoted dhamma — a code of moral conduct including respect for elders, kindness to servants and slaves, generosity to Brahmins and Shramanas, non-violence to animals and tolerance. Rock Edict XII asks people to honour other sects and to show restraint in speech, since praising one's own sect while condemning others harms one's own. Most edicts are in Prakrit, mainly in the Brahmi script (Kharosthi in the north-west), first read by James Prinsep in 1837.
Tirukkural: A Tamil classic by Thiruvalluvar with 1330 couplets (kurals) in 133 chapters, divided into three parts — aram (virtue), porul (wealth/polity) and inbam (love). It teaches truth, gratitude, non-violence, good governance and kindness in a universal way.
Key points
- Acharanga Sutra: non-harm to all living beings.
- Tattvartha Sutra: Umasvati; "parasparopagraho jivanam".
- Dhammapada: hatred ends through non-hatred.
- Ashoka: dhamma; Rock Edicts XII and XIII.
- Tirukkural: 1330 kurals; aram, porul, inbam.
Exam tips
- Remember numbers (1330 couplets, 133 chapters) and the three sections of the Tirukkural.
Common mistakes
- Attributing the Tattvartha Sutra to Mahavira himself; it is by Umasvati.