Thirukkural 255 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உண்ணாமை உள்ளது உயிர்நிலை ஊனுண்ண
அண்ணாத்தல் செய்யாது அளறு.
Transliteration
Unnaamai Ulladhu Uyirnilai Oonunna
Annaaththal Seyyaadhu Alaru
Modern English
“Life continues when living beings are not killed for food; the verse warns that cruelty carries a terrible moral consequence.”
Modern Interpretation
Life continues when living beings are not killed for food; the verse warns that cruelty carries a terrible moral consequence. Choosing not to eat flesh is presented as a way of protecting life. For example, someone who refuses a dish made from a hunted animal is choosing mercy over appetite.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Life continues when living beings are not killed for food; the verse warns that cruelty carries a terrible moral consequence.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Off with flesh; a life you save The eater hell's mouth shall not waive!
G.U. Pope Translation
If flesh you eat not, life's abodes unharmed remain;Who eats, hell swallows him, and renders not again
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Not to eat flesh contributes to the continuance of life; therefore if a man eat flesh, hell will not open its mouth (to let him escape out, after he has once fallen in)
Tamil commentary
இறைச்சியைத் தின்னாது இருத்தல் என்னும் அறத்தின்மேல் உயிர்நிலை இருக்கிறது. இதை மீறித் தின்னும் உயிர்களை நரகம் விழுங்கும்; வெளியே விடவும் செய்யாது.
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