தன் உடம்பை வளர்ப்பதற்காக இன்னோர் உடம்பைத் தின்பவன் மனத்துள் இரக்கம் எப்படி இருக்கும்?

தன் உடலை வளர்ப்பதற்காக வேறொரு உயிரின் உடலை உணவாக்கிக் கொள்பவர் எப்படிக் கருணையுள்ளம் கொண்டவராக இருக்க முடியும்

தன் உடம்பைப் பெருக்கச் செய்வதற்காகத் தான் மற்றோர் உயிரின் உடம்பைத் தின்கின்றவன் எவ்வாறு அருளுடையவனாக இருக்க முடியும்.

How can he be possessed of kindness, who to increase his own flesh, eats the flesh of other creatures

This Kural verse speaks of compassion and empathy towards all living beings, a cornerstone of Thiruvalluvar's philosophy. The couplet is a question posed to the reader, asking how can a person who eats the flesh of other creatures to nourish his own body be considered kind or compassionate? The verse argues that the act of causing harm to another being for personal benefit is fundamentally incompatible with kindness. It is a critique of the practice of consuming meat, which necessitates the killing of animals. Thiruvalluvar uses this as a metaphor to communicate the broader moral principle of non-violence and empathy towards all sentient beings, which are central to ethical and virtuous living. The question "how can he be possessed of kindness?" is rhetorical, implying that such a person cannot truly be kind or compassionate. This verse espouses the principle of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence), a key tenet of many Eastern philosophies and religions. In essence, this Thiru Kural verse emphasizes the importance of empathy, kindness, and non-violence towards all living beings, and suggests that these virtues are incompatible with causing harm to others for one's own benefit.