Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) / Ascetic Virtue
Chapter 26
புலால் மறுத்தல்
Abstinence from Flesh
Pulaanmaruththal. Malay: Tidak Memakan Daging. Kurals 251 to 260.
When thinking about vegetarianism and kindness to animals.
How to say it
Thannoon Perukkarkuth Thaanpiridhu OonunpaanEngnganam Aalum Arul?
Meaning in plain English
How can he be possessed of kindness, who to increase his own flesh, eats the flesh of other creatures
Poetic translation
How can the wont of 'kindly grace' to him be known, Who other creatures' flesh consumes to feed his own
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Porulaatchi Potraadhaarkku Illai ArulaatchiAangillai Oondhin Pavarkku
Meaning in plain English
As those possess no property who do not take care of it, so those possess no kindness who feed on flesh
Poetic translation
No use of wealth have they who guard not their estate; No use of grace have they with flesh who hunger sate
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Pataikontaar Nenjampol Nannookkaadhu OndranUtalsuvai Untaar Manam
Meaning in plain English
Like the (murderous) mind of him who carries a weapon (in his hand), the mind of him who feasts with pleasure on the body of another (creature), has no regard for goodness
Poetic translation
Like heart of them that murderous weapons bear, his mind, Who eats of savoury meat, no joy in good can find
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Arulalladhu Yaadhenin Kollaamai KoralPorulalladhu Avvoon Thinal
Meaning in plain English
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)
Poetic 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
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Unnaamai Ulladhu Uyirnilai OonunnaAnnaaththal Seyyaadhu Alaru
Meaning in plain English
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)
Poetic translation
If flesh you eat not, life's abodes unharmed remain; Who eats, hell swallows him, and renders not again
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Thinarporuttaal Kollaadhu Ulakenin YaarumVilaipporuttaal Oondraruvaa Ril
Meaning in plain English
If the world does not destroy life for the purpose of eating, then no one would sell flesh for the sake of money
Poetic 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
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Unnaamai Ventum Pulaaal PiridhondranPunnadhu Unarvaarp Perin
Meaning in plain English
If men should come to know that flesh is nothing but the unclean ulcer of a body, let them abstain from eating it
Poetic translation
With other beings' ulcerous wounds their hunger they appease; If this they felt, desire to eat must surely cease
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Seyirin Thalaippirindha Kaatchiyaar UnnaarUyirin Thalaippirindha Oon
Meaning in plain English
The wise, who have freed themselves from mental delusion, will not eat the flesh which has been severed from an animal
Poetic translation
Whose souls the vision pure and passionless perceive, Eat not the bodies men of life bereave
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Avisorin Thaayiram Vettalin OndranUyirsekuth Thunnaamai Nandru
Meaning in plain English
Not to kill and eat (the flesh of) an animal, is better than the pouring forth of ghee etc, in a thousand sacrifices
Poetic translation
Than thousand rich oblations, with libations rare, Better the flesh of slaughtered beings not to share
G. U. Pope, 1886
How to say it
Kollaan Pulaalai Maruththaanaik KaikooppiEllaa Uyirun Thozhum
Meaning in plain English
All creatures will join their hands together, and worship him who has never taken away life, nor eaten flesh
Poetic translation
Who slays nought,- flesh rejects- his feet beforeAll living things with clasped hands adore
G. U. Pope, 1886