Kural #254
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Tamil text
அருளல்லது யாதெனின் கொல்லாமை கோறல்
பொருளல்லது அவ்வூன் தினல்
Aruḷallatu yāteṉiṉ kollāmai kōṟal
Poruḷallatu avvūṉ tiṉal
English translation
What is compassion? It is not killing. What is not compassion? Eating the flesh that comes from killing.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar defines compassion through its practical manifestation: not killing. He then defines its opposite: consuming flesh obtained through killing. This clear, logical definition leaves no room for ambiguity about the relationship between meat-eating and lack of mercy.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 254-இல், கொல்லாமையே கருணை என்கிறார் வள்ளுவர். உயிர்களைக் கொன்று அதன் இறைச்சியை உண்பது கருணையற்ற செயல். புலால் மறுத்தல் அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கிய அறம். உயிர்களிடம் அன்பு காட்டுவதே சிறந்த அறம்.
Word meanings
- அருள்aruḷcompassion
- அல்லதுallatuwhat is not
- யாதுyātuwhat
- எனின்eṉiṉif asked
- கொல்லாமைkollāmainot killing
- கோறல்kōṟalkilling
- பொருள்poruḷmeaning/essence
- அவ்வூன்avvūṉthat flesh
- தினல்tiṉaleating
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his bountiful harvests, and Bala, for his love of hunting. One year, a severe drought struck. Arun's crops withered, and his family grew hungry. Bala, seeing their plight, offered them a deer he had killed. Arun, though famished, hesitated. He remembered the deer's gentle eyes in the forest, the joy it took in the green grass. He recalled the lessons of the village elder, who spoke of the interconnectedness of all life. Arun thanked Bala for his generosity but refused the meat. Instead, he shared his remaining grains, stretching the little food he had to feed both families. The drought eventually broke. Arun's fields, though sparse, recovered. Bala, inspired by Arun's compassion, began to plant a small garden. Soon, both families were sharing the fruits of the land, their tables laden with vegetables, their hearts filled with a different kind of fullness.