Thirukkural 254 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அருளல்ல தியாதெனிற் கொல்லாமை கோறல்
பொருளல்லது அவ்வூன் தினல்.
Transliteration
Arulalladhu Yaadhenin Kollaamai Koral
Porulalladhu Avvoon Thinal
Modern English
“Compassion means refusing to take life; its opposite is causing that harm and then consuming the body.”
Modern Interpretation
Compassion means refusing to take life; its opposite is causing that harm and then consuming the body. A caring life avoids turning another creature’s death into a meal. For example, pausing before a food choice can remind us that it came from a living being.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Compassion means refusing to take life; its opposite is causing that harm and then consuming the body.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
If merciless it is to kill, To kill and eat is disgraceful
G.U. Pope Translation
'What's grace, or lack of grace'? 'To kill' is this, that 'not to kill';To eat dead flesh can never worthy end fulfil
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If it be asked what is kindness and what its opposite, the answer would be preservation and destruction of life; and therefore it is not right to feed on the flesh (obtained by taking away life)
Tamil commentary
இரக்கம் எது என்றால் கொலை செய்யாமல் இருப்பதே; இரக்கம் இல்லாதது எது என்றால் கொலை செய்வதே; பாவம் எது என்றால் இறைச்சியைத் தின்பதே
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