Chapter 26 – Abstinence from Flesh
Pulaanmaruththal
Couplets / kuratpaakal
Couplet 251
How can the wont of ‘kindly grace’ to him be known,
Who other creatures’ flesh consumes to feed his own.
Explanation
How can he be possessed of kindness, who to increase his own flesh, eats the flesh of other creatures.
Transliteration
Thannoon Perukkarkuth Thaanpiridhu Oonunpaan
Engnganam Aalum Arul?.
Couplet 252
No use of wealth have they who guard not their estate;
No use of grace have they with flesh who hunger sate.
Explanation
As those possess no property who do not take care of it, so those possess no kindness who feed on flesh.
Transliteration
Porulaatchi Potraadhaarkku Illai Arulaatchi
Aangillai Oondhin Pavarkku.
Couplet 253
Like heart of them that murderous weapons bear, his mind,
Who eats of savoury meat, no joy in good can find.
Explanation
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.
Transliteration
Pataikontaar Nenjampol Nannookkaadhu Ondran
Utalsuvai Untaar Manam.
Couplet 254
‘What’s grace, or lack of grace’? ‘To kill’ is this, that ‘not to kill’;
To eat dead flesh can never worthy end fulfil.
Explanation
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).
Transliteration
Arulalladhu Yaadhenin Kollaamai Koral
Porulalladhu Avvoon Thinal.
Couplet 255
If flesh you eat not, life’s abodes unharmed remain;
Who eats, hell swallows him, and renders not again.
Explanation
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).
Transliteration
Unnaamai Ulladhu Uyirnilai Oonunna
Annaaththal Seyyaadhu Alaru.
Couplet 256
‘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.
Explanation
If the world does not destroy life for the purpose of eating, then no one would sell flesh for the sake of money.
Transliteration
Thinarporuttaal Kollaadhu Ulakenin Yaarum
Vilaipporuttaal Oondraruvaa Ril.
Couplet 257
With other beings’ ulcerous wounds their hunger they appease;
If this they felt, desire to eat must surely cease.
Explanation
If men should come to know that flesh is nothing but the unclean ulcer of a body, let them abstain from eating it.
Transliteration
Unnaamai Ventum Pulaaal Piridhondran
Punnadhu Unarvaarp Perin.
Couplet 258
Whose souls the vision pure and passionless perceive,
Eat not the bodies men of life bereave.
Explanation
The wise, who have freed themselves from mental delusion, will not eat the flesh which has been severed from an animal.
Transliteration
Seyirin Thalaippirindha Kaatchiyaar Unnaar
Uyirin Thalaippirindha Oon.
Couplet 259
Than thousand rich oblations, with libations rare,
Better the flesh of slaughtered beings not to share.
Explanation
Not to kill and eat (the flesh of) an animal, is better than the pouring forth of ghee etc, in a thousand sacrifices.
Transliteration
Avisorin Thaayiram Vettalin Ondran
Uyirsekuth Thunnaamai Nandru.
Couplet 260
Who slays nought,- flesh rejects- his feet before
All living things with clasped hands adore.
Explanation
All creatures will join their hands together, and worship him who has never taken away life, nor eaten flesh.
Transliteration
Kollaan Pulaalai Maruththaanaik Kaikooppi
Ellaa Uyirun Thozhum.
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