Kural #255
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Tamil text
உண்ணாமை உள்ளது உயிர்நிலை
ஊனுண்ண அண்ணாத்தல் செய்யாது அளறு
Uṇṇāmai uḷḷatu uyirnilai
Ūṉuṇṇa aṇṇāttal ceyyātu aḷaṟu
English translation
Abstaining from flesh is the way to sustain life. Hell will not open its mouth to swallow those who eat flesh.
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Explanation
This kural presents both positive and negative consequences. Those who abstain from meat protect life itself. Additionally, they need not fear hell (அளறு), which awaits those who cause suffering to other beings through meat consumption.
விளக்கம்
மாமிசம் உண்ணாமல் இருப்பது உயிரைக் காக்கும் வழி. புலால் உண்பவர்கள் நரகத்திற்குப் பயப்பட வேண்டும். புலால் மறுத்தல் அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கிய அறம். உயிர்களிடத்தில் கருணை காட்டுவதே சிறப்பு.
Word meanings
- உண்ணாமைuṇṇāmainot eating (meat)
- உள்ளதுuḷḷatuis what constitutes
- உயிர்uyirlife
- நிலைnilaistate/preservation
- ஊன்ūṉflesh
- உண்ணuṇṇato eat
- அண்ணாத்தல்aṇṇāttalopening the mouth
- செய்யாதுceyyātuwill not do
- அளறுaḷaṟuhell
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a lush forest, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun was a hunter, providing meat for his family. Bala, however, was a farmer, content with the fruits of his labor. One harsh winter, food became scarce. Arun, desperate, hunted relentlessly. He brought home a plump deer, its eyes filled with a plea for mercy. Though the meat sustained his family, a shadow of unease fell upon him. Bala, facing the same hardship, shared his meager harvest with his neighbors, even the poorest. He found joy in their gratitude, a warmth that filled his home. When spring arrived, the land flourished anew. Arun's health waned, his spirit burdened. Bala, however, was vibrant, his heart light. His crops yielded abundantly, enough to feed his family and help Arun's. As Arun ate Bala's food, he understood a truth.