The Kural · Chapter
XXVI: Abjuring of Flesh-Meat explained
This chapter condemns the killing and eating of animals, arguing that true pity, goodness, and spiritual life are incompatible with meat consumption.
What happens
This chapter condemns the killing and eating of animals, arguing that true pity, goodness, and spiritual life are incompatible with meat consumption. It asserts that abstaining from flesh-meat is superior to sacrificial rites and earns universal reverence.
Themes in this chapter
Virtue and Righteousness
Emphasizes pity and moral goodness as incompatible with meat-eating.
Asceticism and Spiritual Discipline
Advocates abstention from flesh as a path to spiritual liberation and escape from illusion.
Characters to notice
- Thiruvalluvar
Author of the verses advocating abstention from flesh-meat.
- the Kural
The text containing the moral teachings on non-killing and vegetarianism.
Key passages
“How can he feel pity, who eateth other flesh in order to fatten his own?”
A person who consumes animal flesh to nourish themselves cannot truly experience compassion.
Highlights the contradiction between self-interest and empathy.
“In non-eating of flesh is Life: if thou eat, the pit of hell will not open its mouth to let thee out.”
Abstaining from meat is life-affirming; eating it leads to damnation without escape.
Links dietary choice to spiritual consequences.
“To abstain from the killing and eating of living things is better than to perform a thousand sacrifices in the sacrificial fire.”
Refraining from harming and consuming animals surpasses the merit of countless ritual sacrifices.
Elevates ethical practice over ritualistic religion.