Thirukkural 259 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அவிசொரிந் தாயிரம் வேட்டலின் ஒன்றன்
உயிர்செகுத் துண்ணாமை நன்று.
Transliteration
Avisorin Thaayiram Vettalin Ondran
Uyirsekuth Thunnaamai Nandru
Modern English
“Choosing not to kill and eat a creature is better than performing countless impressive rituals.”
Modern Interpretation
Choosing not to kill and eat a creature is better than performing countless impressive rituals. Compassion in daily life matters more than grand displays of piety. For example, quietly sparing an animal shows more mercy than making a public show of devotion while causing harm.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Choosing not to kill and eat a creature is better than performing countless impressive rituals.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Not to-kill-and-eat, truly Excels thousand pourings of ghee!
G.U. Pope Translation
Than thousand rich oblations, with libations rare,Better the flesh of slaughtered beings not to share
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Not to kill and eat (the flesh of) an animal, is better than the pouring forth of ghee etc, in a thousand sacrifices
Tamil commentary
(மந்திரம் சொல்லித் தேவர்களுக்கு இடும் உணவாகிய) அவிகளைத் தீயில் போட்டு ஆயிரம் வேள்வி செய்வதைக் காட்டிலும் ஓர் உயிரைப் போக்கி அதன் உடம்பை உண்ணாமல் இருப்பது நல்லது.
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