Abstaining from Flesh
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poruḷāṭci pōṟṟātārk killai yaruḷāṭci / yāṅkillai yūṉṟiṉ pavarkku
“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.”
Those who do not safeguard wealth cannot receive its benefit; likewise, those who eat flesh cannot receive the governing benefit of compassion.
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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
Just as those who fail to safeguard their wealth cannot enjoy its lasting benefits, those who consume the flesh of slaughtered creatures can never experience the spiritual peace and protection of true compassion.