Thirukkural 253 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
படைகொண்டார் நெஞ்சம்போல் நன்னூக்காது ஒன்றன்
உடல்சுவை உண்டார் மனம்.
Transliteration
Pataikontaar Nenjampol Nannookkaadhu Ondran
Utalsuvai Untaar Manam
Modern English
“A mind that takes pleasure in another creature’s body can become less attentive to compassion, like a person carrying a weapon who stops seeing others as people.”
Modern Interpretation
A mind that takes pleasure in another creature’s body can become less attentive to compassion, like a person carrying a weapon who stops seeing others as people. What we repeatedly enjoy can shape how we feel. For example, treating an animal’s suffering as entertainment can make cruelty seem normal.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A mind that takes pleasure in another creature’s body can become less attentive to compassion, like a person carrying a weapon who stops seeing others as people.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who wields a steel is steel-hearted Who tastes body is hard-hearted
G.U. Pope Translation
Like heart of them that murderous weapons bear, his mind,Who eats of savoury meat, no joy in good can find
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Like the (murderous) mind of him who carries a weapon (in his hand), the mind of him who feasts with pleasure on the body of another (creature), has no regard for goodness
Tamil commentary
கத்தியைத் தன் கையில் பிடித்திருப்பவரின் மனம், இரக்கத்தை எண்ணிப் பாராதது போலப் பிறிதொரு உடலைச் சுவைத்து உண்டவரின் மனமும் இரக்கத்தை எணணாது.
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