If it be asked what is kindness and what its opposite, the answer would be preservation and destruction of life; and therefore it is not right to feed on the flesh (obtained by taking away life).
அருள் எது என்றால் ஓர் உயிரையும் கொல்லாமலிருத்தல்; அருளல்லாதது எது என்றால் உயிரைக் கொல்லுதல்; அதன் உடம்பைத் தின்னுதல் அறம் அல்லாதது
Meaning in English
If it be asked what is kindness and what its opposite, the answer would be preservation and destruction of life; and therefore it is not right to feed on the flesh (obtained by taking away life).
Thirukkural 254 belongs to the virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) section, chapter Other (புலான்மறுத்தல்). Written by the ancient Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar (திருவள்ளுவர்), it teaches timeless wisdom about virtue.