Kural Chronicles

KURAL 251

ARATHUPAAL

THURAVARAVIYAL

ADHIKAARAM 52 – PULAAL MARUTHTHAL – NOT EATING FLESH

தன்னூன் பெருக்கற்குத் தான்பிறிது ஊனுண்பான்
எங்ஙனம் ஆளும் அருள்.

Thannoon perukkarku thaanpirithu oonunbaan

Enganam aalum arul

When a man eats the flesh of another to grow his own flesh, how can he be called compassionate?

Thannoon – than + oon – one’s own + flesh;  Perukka: to grow;  Pirithu: other;  Unbaan: will eat;  Enganam: how;  Aalum: rule;  Arul: grace or compassion.

Thuravaram is abstinence from wordly pleasures. Under the iyal thuravaram, Valluvar has penned ten couplets on Pulaal Maruththal, which means, abstinence from eating flesh. In simple words – vegetarianism.

If a man were to kill a fellow human and eat his flesh, he will be shunned as a cannibal and feared. He can eat with relish though, goat, lamb, hen, fish, eggs, etc,  etc.,. No one will bat an eyelid. The truth is eating the flesh of creatures other than humans is not considered cruel or a crime. We so complacently think of ourselves as good human beings with strong values. Valluvar asks however, in harsh terms even, “If you can eat other flesh to grow and strengthen  your own flesh, how will grace be even associated with you; how can you be called compassionate?”

It may be argued that the balance of the eco system needs to be maintained! Who, I pray, determines the eco system? Man is a very entitled creature indeed and arrogant to boot to think he owns the world and all its myriad life forms!