Thirukkural 251 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தன்னூன் பெருக்கற்குத் தான்பிறிது ஊனுண்பான்
எங்ஙனம் ஆளும் அருள்?
Transliteration
Thannoon Perukkarkuth Thaanpiridhu Oonunpaan
Engnganam Aalum Arul?
Modern English
“Real compassion is hard to claim while harming another living being for food.”
Modern Interpretation
Real compassion is hard to claim while harming another living being for food. Caring about others means noticing that our own comfort should not require another creature’s suffering. For example, someone who chooses a meal that does not depend on an animal’s death is acting on that concern.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Real compassion is hard to claim while harming another living being for food.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
What graciousness can one command who feeds his flesh by flesh gourmand
G.U. Pope Translation
How can the wont of 'kindly grace' to him be known,Who other creatures' flesh consumes to feed his own
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
How can he be possessed of kindness, who to increase his own flesh, eats the flesh of other creatures
Tamil commentary
தன் உடம்பை வளர்ப்பதற்காக இன்னோர் உடம்பைத் தின்பவன் மனத்துள் இரக்கம் எப்படி இருக்கும்?
Chapter 26
More from Abstinence from Flesh
புலால் மறுத்தல்
What graciousness can one command who feeds his flesh by flesh gourmand
Kural 252The thriftless have no property And flesh-eaters have no pity
Kural 253Who wields a steel is steel-hearted Who tastes body is hard-hearted
Kural 254If merciless it is to kill, To kill and eat is disgraceful
Kural 255Off with flesh; a life you save The eater hell's mouth shall not waive!
Kural 256None would kill and sell the flesh For eating it if they don't wish
Kural 257From eating flesh men must abstain If they but feel the being's pain
Kural 258Whose mind from illusion is freed Refuse on lifeless flesh to feed
Kural 259Not to-kill-and-eat, truly Excels thousand pourings of ghee!
Kural 260All lives shall lift their palms to him Who eats not flesh nor kills with whim