925. A chance to grow

வறுத்த விதையின் வழிமுளை யில்லைபொறுத்த விதைமட்டும் பூ

varutha vidhaiyin vazhimulai yillaiporutha vidhaimattum poo

A scorched seed never sends up a shoot; only the seed that was spared and held on comes to flower.

926. What killing hides

கொன்றால் தெரியும் எடைமட்டும் கொல்லாதுவிட்டால் தெரியும் உயிர்

kondraal theriyum edaimattum kollaadhuvittaal theriyum uyir

Kill it, and all you will know of it is its weight; spare it, and you will know its life.

927. What mercy leaves

கொன்றிருப்பின் தீர்ந்திருப்பான் கொல்லா தருள்செய்தான்நின்றிருக்கும் நெஞ்சில் நெருப்பு

kondriruppin theerndiruppaan kollaa tharulseythaannindrirukkum nenjil neruppu

Had he killed him, the man would have been finished. He did not kill him; he showed him mercy, and a fire stays standing in the heart.

Death would have closed the matter; sparing leaves it open. Fire in the heart means anguish or anger, and the heart could be either man’s.