Tirukkural Chapter 26 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 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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26/07. உண்ணாமை வேண்டும் புலாஅல் பிறிதொன்றன்
புண்ணது உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்.

26/07. Unnaamai venndum pulaal pirrithonrran
Punnadhu unnarvaarp perin.

26/07. Meat is other body's wound. If one knows
That it is not clean, he will have to leave that meat.
***
Muthu: Meat is blood soaked flesh.
How people eat that?

Manikam: An animal eats any food
Pure or not, bad or good,
So, its flesh is not clean
For human consumption.

Regularly if one eats,
Variety of Sickness he gets,
So better he takes
Safe vegetarian diets.

Why eat costly meat,
When one can eat
Harm free vegetable diets,
Cheaper than meat items.
***
26/08. செயிரின் தலைப்பிரிந்த காட்சியார் உண்ணார்
உயிரின் தலைப்பிரிந்த ஊன்.

26/08. Seyirin thalaippirindha kaatchiyaar unnaar
Uyirin thalaippirindha oon.

26/08. An ignorant man freeing himself from his mistakes,
Will not eat a body freed from its life.
***
Muthu: Why a dead body one should eat?

Manikam: It's not dead carcass
But dead body pieces
After killing one takes
Before the flesh decays.

Such justifications,
And vain arguments,
Still helps one to eat
Lifeless dead meat.

It's that dead meat,
One should not eat.
This piece of advice.
The poet here gives.
***
26/09. அவிசொரிந்து ஆயிரம் வேட்டலின் ஒன்றன்
உயிர்செகுத்து உண்ணாமை நன்று.

26/09. Avisorindhu aayiram vettalin onrran
Uyirseguththu unnaamai nandru.

26/09. It is better not to eat dead bodies,
Than pouring ghee offerings over thousand sacrifices.
***
Muthu: Is it a fact dead body of an animal
In the name of meat one eats?

Manikam: Well cooked dead meat
One can safely eat
As it gets sterilized in fire
And one need not have fear.

This argument holds good,
But killing animals for food
Is not advised by wise men
For many obvious reasons.

Just pour ghee as offer
Over sacrificial fire,
And kill innocent creature,
Both are justifiable how far?
***
26/10. கொல்லான் புலாலை மறுத்தானைக் கைகூப்பி
எல்லா உயிரும் தொழும்

26/10. Kollaan pulaalai marruththaanaik kaikooppi
Ellaa uyirum thozhum.

26/10. If one does not kill a life or eat meat
All living beings will worship him with folded hands.
***
Muthu: If one gives up eating meat
It is good for him in all respect.

Manikam: People are now health conscious.
There is a growing awareness,
To avoid several harmful things
Like smoking and drinking.

Some are giving up meat
And vegetables they eat,
Under medical advice,
After paying a heavy price.

All the living beings
Will worship those
Who give up eating meat
In their own self interest.
***