Thirukkural 260 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கொல்லான் புலாலை மறுத்தானைக் கைகூப்பி
எல்லா உயிருந் தொழும்.
Transliteration
Kollaan Pulaalai Maruththaanaik Kaikooppi
Ellaa Uyirun Thozhum
Modern English
“All living beings honor the person who neither kills them nor eats them.”
Modern Interpretation
All living beings honor the person who neither kills them nor eats them. Respect for life earns a kind of trust that no speech can command. For example, an animal treated gently is safer around a person who never harms it.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
All living beings honor the person who neither kills them nor eats them.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
All lives shall lift their palms to him Who eats not flesh nor kills with whim
G.U. Pope Translation
Who slays nought,- flesh rejects- his feet beforeAll living things with clasped hands adore
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
All creatures will join their hands together, and worship him who has never taken away life, nor eaten flesh
Tamil commentary
எந்த உயிரையும் கொல்லாதவனாய், இறைச்சியைத் தின்ன மறுத்தவனாய் வாழ்பவனை எல்லா உயிர்களும் கை குவித்துத் தொழும்.
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