Thirukkural 256 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தினற்பொருட்டால் கொல்லாது உலகெனின் யாரும்
விலைப்பொருட்டால் ஊன்றருவா ரில்.
Transliteration
Thinarporuttaal Kollaadhu Ulakenin Yaarum
Vilaipporuttaal Oondraruvaa Ril
Modern English
“If people did not demand meat, no one would kill animals and sell their flesh for profit.”
Modern Interpretation
If people did not demand meat, no one would kill animals and sell their flesh for profit. What buyers support creates the market that sellers supply. For example, when enough customers stop ordering a product, shops stop stocking it.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
If people did not demand meat, no one would kill animals and sell their flesh for profit.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
None would kill and sell the flesh For eating it if they don't wish
G.U. Pope Translation
'We eat the slain,' you say, by us no living creatures die;Who'd kill and sell, I pray, if none came there the flesh to buy
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If the world does not destroy life for the purpose of eating, then no one would sell flesh for the sake of money
Tamil commentary
தின்பதற்காகவே கொலை செய்பவர் இல்லை என்றால், இறைச்சியை விலைக்குத் தருபவரும் உலகில் எங்கும் இருக்கமாட்டார்.
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