Tirukkural Chapter 26 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

(Note: 2000 years ago, the Poet Tiruvalluvar is a Jain who avoids taking meat
So, he has written these 10 couplets in favor of vegetarianism)

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 266 - புலால் மறுத்தல்
CHAPTER 26 - ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT
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26/04. அருள்அல்லது யாதெனின் கொல்லாமை, கோறல்
பொருளல்லது அவ்வூன் தினல்.

26/04. Arullalladhu yaadhenin kollaamai, korral
Porulladhu avvoon thinal.

26/04. Not killing is good and killing is bad.
Eating that flesh is another sin.
***
Muthu: Eating meat is a sin, but all cannot give up meat.

Manickam: Once pre-historic men,
Cannibals, were eating men.
Slowly this habit changed
To eating animals and birds.

Some for a change ate
Cooked vegetables for taste,
Then they became vegetarians,
As they ate only vegetables.

The poet says, meat eaters
Will have no kindness,
As blood soaked meat
Had hardened their hearts.
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25/05. உண்ணாமை உள்ளது உயிர்நிலை; ஊன்உண்ண
அண்ணாத்தல் செய்யாது அன்று.

25/05. Unnaamai ulladhu uyirnilai; oonunna
Annaaththal seiyaadhu andru.

25/05. By not eating flesh, life activates its body.
One eating body separating its life, that sin will never leave him.
***
Muthu: Someone kills and another one eats
So there is no sin for the eater, is it so?

Manickam: Because one man is eating
Another man is killing,
If there's no eater
Will there be a killer?

Both men are committing sin,
Killed by one and ate by one,
So, the eater can't claim,
That he carries no blame.

Century after century,
In almost every country,
There is vegetarian movement
But still people eat meat.
***
26/06. தினற்பொருட்டால் கொல்லாது உலகெனின் யாரும்
விலைப்பொருட்டால் ஊன்தருவார் இல்.

26/06. Thinarrporuttaal kollaadhu ulakenin yaarum
Vilaipporuttaal oontharuvaar ill.

26/06. If all people kill for meat to eat
Will there be one for sales to earn money?
***
Muthu: If everyone kills for meat
Who will sell meat?

Manickam: May be in villages
There may not be meat shops,
But in all towns and cities,
There're many meat shops.

Plenty of hotels in cities
Serve variety of meat dishes
So, meat consumption
Has not come down.

Now doctors say meat
Supplies more weight and fat,
Leading to one's heart-block
And finally heart-attack.
***