Abstaining from Flesh
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
poruḷāṭci pōṟṟātārk killai yaruḷāṭci / yāṅkillai yūṉṟiṉ pavarkku
Those who do not safeguard wealth cannot receive its benefit; likewise, those who eat flesh cannot receive the governing benefit of compassion.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“No use of wealth have they who guard not their estate; / No use of grace have they with flesh who hunger sate.”
“Riches are not for the thriftless: even so pity is not for those that eat meat.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொருள் ஆட்சி போற்றாதார்க்கு இல்லை= பொருளால் பயன் கோடல் அதனைப் பாதுகாவாதார்க்கு இல்லை; ஆங்கு அருள் ஆட்சி ஊன் தின்பவர்க்கு இல்லை= அது போல அருளால் பயன் கோடல் ஊன் தின்பவர்க்கு இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains an analogy. People who fail to protect material resources cannot draw their benefit; in the same way, people who eat flesh cannot draw the benefit of compassion's rule. `பொருளாட்சி` and `அருளாட்சி` refer to the effective benefit or governance of wealth and compassion, not political power. The verse's direct judgment about flesh-eating should not be turned into surveillance or humiliation of people whose food access, health, culture, or household authority is constrained.